Clinical trial NCT03343379: Core Stability Measures as a Risk Factor for the Development of Lower Extremity Injuries in Physical Education Students
Official title: Core Stability as a Risk Factor for the Development of Lower Extremity Injuries: a Prospective Study
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Leg Injuries
Keywords: Abdominal muscles
Back muscles
Core stability
Field test
Muscle strength dynamometer
Lower extremity injury
Risk assessment
Prospective studies
Lead sponsor: University Ghent
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2017-11-17
Enrollment: 139
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Intervention model description: 1 group of participants was screened at the start of the study and followed prospectively for 2 years
Primary purpose: SCREENING

Brief summary: Male and female physical education students were subjected to a clinical test battery comprised of valid and reliable tests to measure different aspects of core stability at the start of the study. After a period of 2 months testing, the injury registration procedure started with the use of an online injury registration platform and regular call back moments. After 2 years of injury registration, all data was gathered and will be analysed statistically to link the measured core stability aspects as risk factors for certain lower extremity injuries.

Detailed description: September 2014 - December 2014: 139 male and female participants 18+ were subjected to different test to evaluate corresponding aspects of core stability. The following test were performed: Star excursion balance test; Lumbopelvic proprioception test; Lumbopelvic neuromuscular control test; Lateral step down test; Hip strength test measured with a handheld dynamometer(flexion/extension/abduction/adduction/internal rotation/external rotation); Trunk strength tests measured with a handheld dynamometer (trunk flexion and trunk extension) and core muscle endurance tests (prone bridging test/Biering-Sorenson test/side bridging tests).

January 2015 - April 2017: Prospective follow up of lower extremity injury contracted during sports activity. The injuries were confirmed by a medical examiner and were recorded in an online injury registry platform (Survey Monkey).

Statistical analysis will be performed to evaluate which core stability outcome measure can be considered a risk factor for the development of lower extremity injuries.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

- 1st year of physical education study (enrolled at the Artevelde graduate school or the Ghent graduate school

Exclusion Criteria:

* Musculoskeletal injury at the time of study participation
* Pre-existing lower back injury
* Pre-existing lower extremity injury (less than 6 months prior to study participation)

Primary outcomes:
measure: Core muscle strength
timeFrame: 2 hours
measure: Hip strength
timeFrame: 2 hours
measure: Postural control
timeFrame: 2 hours
measure: Core muscle endurance
timeFrame: 2 hours
measure: Sensorimotor control of core musculature
timeFrame: 2 hours
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Injury history
timeFrame: 2 hours
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Ghent
country: Belgium
facility: Vakgroep REVAKI (Ghent University - Ghent University hospital)
Study officials:
affiliation: University Ghent
name: Philip Roosen, PT, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: De Blaiser C, De Ridder R, Willems T, Danneels L, Vanden Bossche L, Palmans T, Roosen P. Evaluating abdominal core muscle fatigue: Assessment of the validity and reliability of the prone bridging test. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2018 Feb;28(2):391-399. doi: 10.1111/sms.12919. Epub 2017 Jun 28.
citation: De Blaiser C, Roosen P, Willems T, Danneels L, Bossche LV, De Ridder R. Is core stability a risk factor for lower extremity injuries in an athletic population? A systematic review. Phys Ther Sport. 2018 Mar;30:48-56. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2017.08.076. Epub 2017 Aug 24.
citation: Kibler WB, Press J, Sciascia A. The role of core stability in athletic function. Sports Med. 2006;36(3):189-98. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200636030-00001.
citation: Willson JD, Dougherty CP, Ireland ML, Davis IM. Core stability and its relationship to lower extremity function and injury. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2005 Sep;13(5):316-25. doi: 10.5435/00124635-200509000-00005.