Clinical trial NCT06318325: Growth Process and Development of the Musculoskeletal System in Young Gymnasts
Official title: Growth Process and Development of Muscle, Bone, and Tendon in Correlation With Injuries in Young Gymnasts During Adolescence
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Conditions: Development, Adolescent
Keywords: musculoskeletal
menarche
athlete
Lead sponsor: University of Haifa
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: The Academic college Levinsky-Wingate at the Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel
First posted: 2024-03-19
Enrollment: 200
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 9
Maximum age (years): 16
Standard ages: CHILD
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: young female gymnasts training on a regular basis and competitive level

Brief summary: assessment of the musculoskeletal system will be performed twice a year, for three years of young gymnasts.

Detailed description: Aims: To examine the changes in the anatomical and morphological features in the skeleton of young female artistic and rhythmic gymnasts and follow the risk of injuries during the period of pubertal growth.

Methods: 200 gymnasts (100 rhythmic and 100 artistic) will participate. Measurements will be performed at the beginning and the end of each year, for three years. Each gymnast will be examined for the following: asked about her menarche, assessed by a physician for Tanner stages, and will answer the Triad-specific self-report questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI), muscle strength (using hand-held dynamometer), joint range of motion (using goniometer), scoliosis, and Beighton test for hypermobility will be assessed. In addition, the gymnasts will be scanned by using three different ultrasounds: Bone age for the skeletal age, SOS for the bone properties, and ultrasound tissue characterization for the tendon structure. The gymnasts will be asked about their physical training history, frequency, and training intensity. Each gymnast will be asked whether she had pain or injuries during the period she has been training, as well as a physical and injuries evaluation that will be conducted by a physician.

Once a month a telephone follow-up with the trainer regarding any pain or injuries in the last month will be conducted.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* training at least 4 times per week,
* a minimum of 16 hours per week, at a competitive level.
* The gymnasts exercised fully three months before the beginning of the study
* have not been absent more than three days from training due to pain, discomfort, or injury.

Exclusion Criteria:

* present injury causing pain
* missing training.

Primary outcomes:
measure: ultrasound tissue characterized
timeFrame: baseline, twice a year for 3 years
measure: muscle strength test
timeFrame: baseline, twice a year for 3 years
measure: range of motion
timeFrame: baseline, twice a year for 3 years
measure: bone strength
timeFrame: baseline, twice a year for 3 years
measure: Bone Age
timeFrame: baseline, twice a year for 3 years
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Netanya
country: Israel
facility: The Academic college Levinsky-Wingate at the Wingate Institute
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Haifa
name: Gali Dar
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: