Loading clinical trials...
Loading clinical trials...
Showing 1-20 of 20 trials
NCT07540247
This study aims to compare the effects of neuroathletic training, reactive training, and routine team training in American football players. American football requires not only strength, speed, agility, and balance, but also rapid reaction, decision-making, and appropriate motor responses. Therefore, training approaches targeting the nervous system and reaction skills may contribute to both performance enhancement and injury risk reduction. Active American football players aged 18-30 are randomly assigned to neuroathletic training, reactive training, or control groups. The intervention groups participate in additional exercise sessions twice a week for four weeks, while the control group continues routine team training only. Assessments are performed before and after the intervention period. Outcome measures include Y Balance Test, Functional Movement Screen, Reactive Balance Test, core endurance test, and sit-and-reach test. These assessments are used to examine reaction performance, dynamic balance, postural control, movement quality, core endurance, and flexibility. The findings are expected to help identify the most effective training approach for improving performance and reducing injury risk in American football players.
NCT07395583
Football is a sport with a high risk of injury, and hamstring muscle injuries are among the most common problems faced by players. These injuries can reduce a player's performance, cause time away from training and matches, and place a burden on medical teams and clubs. Many training programs recommend eccentric hamstring exercises to prevent these injuries, but there is limited evidence comparing eccentric exercises with concentric exercises or a combination of both, especially in elite male football players. The purpose of this study is to compare the long-term effects of three different hamstring strengthening programs-eccentric training, concentric training, and a combination of both-on preventing non-contact hamstring injuries in elite male footballers. Each training program will last for three months, and the players will be followed for a total period of 12 months. The study will look at how these programs affect hamstring injury prevention, muscle strength and performance, flexibility, recurrence of injuries, and players' psychological satisfaction. The study is based on the following expectations: A three-month eccentric hamstring strengthening program will lead to long-term improvements in reducing hamstring injuries, improving muscle performance and flexibility, lowering injury recurrence, and increasing psychological satisfaction over a 12-month period. A three-month concentric hamstring strengthening program will also result in long-term improvements in injury prevention, muscle performance, flexibility, injury recurrence, and psychological satisfaction. A combined program of eccentric and concentric hamstring strengthening over three months will produce significant long-term benefits in injury prevention, muscle performance, flexibility, injury recurrence, and psychological satisfaction. There will be clear differences in outcomes between the eccentric, concentric, combined, and control groups over the 12-month follow-up period. Participants will be divided into four groups (A, B, C, and D) based on the type of training they receive. The study will include young male professional football players aged 18 to 30 years from the UAE who are citizens or permanent residents. All participants must speak English, have at least one year of football playing experience, and must not have had any hamstring injury in the past six months. Players who are interested in participating and provide written informed consent will be included. Players will be excluded if they have had a hamstring injury in the last six months, are female, are under 18 or over 30 years old, have restrictions in knee movement, have undergone previous hamstring surgery, are currently enrolled in another official rehabilitation program, or do not agree to participate in the study. Group A participants will perform eccentric hamstring exercises, including Nordic hamstring curls, dumbbell stiff-leg deadlifts, and barbell Romanian deadlifts. Group B participants will perform concentric hamstring exercises such as seated leg curls, lying leg curls, and prone hamstring curls using resistance bands. Group C participants will perform a combination of both eccentric and concentric hamstring exercises. Group D participants will continue with their usual football training only and will not perform any additional hamstring-specific exercises. Before each training session, all participants in Groups A, B, and C will complete a 10-minute warm-up, consisting of five minutes of cycling, three minutes of stretching, and two minutes of rope jumping. Each training session will last at least 30 minutes. The exercise groups will complete three additional training sessions per week alongside their regular football training for a total of 12 weeks. The results of this study will help determine which type of hamstring training program is most effective in preventing non-contact hamstring injuries and improving physical and psychological outcomes in elite male football players.
NCT07458373
The goal of the current study is to evaluate the plyometrics and resistance band training in recreational football players, aged 18-25 years. The main question it aims to answer are: Does the plyometrics significantly improve agility and reduce Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE)? Does the resistance band training significantly improve agility and reduce RPE? Participants will be assigned to either an experimental group receiving plyometrics or arm comparator group receiving resistance band training, and will complete standardized assessment of agility and RPE before and after the intervention.
NCT07450937
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between cervical muscle strength, proprioceptive sense, and sportive performance in adolescent soccer players.
NCT07431320
Concussion is a major concern in the sports world. It represents an immediate and transient alteration of neurological functions due to a direct or indirect trauma, with or without loss of consciousness. Concussions affect between 1.6 and 3.8 million people per year in the United States across all sports. The prevalence varies depending on the sport. In France, the incidence of sport-related concussions is estimated at 200,000 cases. According to the French Academy of Medicine (March 2025), concussions account for between 5% and 9% of all sports-related injuries. Among these cases, 30% involve individuals aged 5 to 19. Football (soccer) is one of the most affected sports, with its 2 million registered players. In French professional football (Ligue 1 and 2), during the 2023-2024 season, one concussion was recorded every 55 matches on average (declared concussion). During the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons, the rate of matches with concussion was approximately 2.5%. In professional rugby, it is estimated that one concussion occurs every three matches in France. There are no precise statistics on the number or frequency of concussions in amateur football in France, due to a lack of reporting and insufficient diagnosis. Currently, practical recommendations exist for managing football players from the moment of impact on the field, implemented within the French Football Federation. The current concussion protocol includes a standardized tool for evaluating concussion intended for healthcare professionals, the SCAT6. However, this protocol is not always sufficient, and return-to-play sometimes occurs too early. Indeed, current assessments are too brief and do not evaluate all cognitive functions. They do not allow a clear understanding of the real on-field consequences. It is estimated that 50% of athletes return to play too early after a concussion, with risks of neurological complications or prolonged symptoms. However, defining rest time and return-to-play criteria is not straightforward. In practice, return to play relies, among other things, on neuropsychological tests, whose interpretation is difficult in the absence of baseline data. The concussion protocol does not allow for an accurate determination of whether performance has normalized without this neuropsychological baseline. Recent European and international recommendations advise conducting pre-season assessments to provide comparative values. Several studies have been published on the type of pre-season assessments to perform, most using paper-and-pencil or computerized neurocognitive tests. The current concussion protocol relies mainly on paper-and-pencil tests. However, the literature shows dissociations between cognitive performance measured in ecological environments and performance measured through paper-and-pencil tests. Ecological tasks have the advantage of closely approximating the daily actions of a player and assessing cognitive functioning more precisely. Thus, these ecological tasks, combined with a baseline assessment, would improve the evaluation of athletes following a concussion. These tasks would facilitate return-to-play decisions through more objective observations and normed data. Finally, ecological tasks would enhance player monitoring and allow a more accurate understanding of their health status. For this reason, it seems necessary to develop a standardized ecological test performed in real-game situations. This would improve decision-making regarding return to play without medically endangering the player and would allow better understanding of the cognitive effects of concussion. These tasks will first be reviewed and tested by experts (players, football staff members, national concussion reference physician, and neuropsychologists) for feedback and refinement.
NCT07395765
This study aimed to compare acute serum BDNF and cognitive performance following touch-limited versus free-play 4v4 small-sided games (SSGs) in male soccer players. This randomized crossover controlled trial aimed to examine the acute effects of touch-limited (SSGr) vs free-play (SSGf) 4v4 SSGs on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), blood lactate levels and executive function performance in male soccer players. All participants completed the two conditions in a randomized and counterbalanced manner. To ensure balanced exposure, they were assigned to one of two groups (n=16), each following a distinct condition. A seven-day interval separated each session to reduce residual physiological or cognitive effects. The trial protocol was developed in line with Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials guidelines, including for within-subject designs and non-pharmacological interventions. Participants were blinded to the study hypothesis. Teams were formed based on the coach's assessment of the players' technical, tactical, and physical abilities. To minimize differences in player's maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) level estimated from the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test (30-15 IFT) were also taken into account. The SSG sessions were conducted at 10.00-12.00 to have similar chronobiological characteristics on a natural grass pitch during the off-season period under the supervision of A-licenced coaches to ensure consistency and adherence to protocol. All players continued their routine off-season training program, which involved three training sessions (strength, aerobic activity, aerobic running) per week. Players were advised to avoid strenuous exercise within 48 h, be prohibited from drinking alcohol or coffee within 24 h, and have at least 7-8 h of sleep before the intervention. During this study, the players were instructed to maintain their dietary habits and general lifestyle. During the first visit, participants' resting heart rate was recorded. Then body weight and body fat percentage were assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. To mitigate potential learning effects, all participants underwent a familiarization session with Stroop Test. Finally, participants performed 30-15 IFT to determine aerobic capacity, and peak heart rate. During the two subsequent visits, each participant completed both SSGr and SSGf sessions, with one session (SSGr or SSGf) completed during visit 2 and the other during visit 3. The half of the participants completed SSGr first and the other half completed the SSGf first. Blood samples were collected and cognitive performance tests were conducted before and after each training session. The heart rate was monitored throughout each session. Additionally, following each exercise session, rating scale mental effort scores were used to assess the players' psychophysiological responses. Water intake was permitted during all the recovery periods throughout the training sessions. Each exercise session began with a standardized 10-minute warm-up, including light jogging, dynamic stretching, and soccer-specific movement preparation drills with and without the ball. All exercise sessions lasted 40 minutes in total, consisting of a 10-minute standardized warm-up, 24 minutes of exercise, and a 5-minute recovery period. In this study, we conducted 4v4 SSG to foster environments recommended by studies suggesting that game formats with fewer players may offer a more cognitively demanding structure, including creativity, exploratory behaviors, and decision-making challenges for players. The SSGs with mini-goals were played on a 30 × 24 m pitch (720 m²), with dimensions set to provide a comparable relative area per player (90 m²). The duration of the SSG was carefully standardized, consisting of four 4 min bouts with 3 min passive recovery intervals between bouts. During recovery, players went to the sideline for ad libitum rehydration and returned to their positions in walking speed. These movements were excluded from analysis as they are not representative of match play. Across all experimental conditions, participants were encouraged to maximize the number of goals scored to foster a competitive environment and sustain a high level of effort. Players were instructed to exert maximal effort during gameplay and received verbal encouragement, which excluded feedback on their technical and tactical performance. To ensure uninterrupted play and maximize effective playing time, multiple balls were placed along the sidelines, and two coaches stationed around the field promptly provided replacement balls when required. The SSGf was free-flowing without imposed constraints, such as touch limitations, mandatory passing, or predefined scoring conditions. In the SSGr, the only difference from the free-play condition was limiting the number of ball touches. Accordingly, each time players received the ball, they were required to release it by the second touch at the latest.
NCT07387029
Football players require good core strength and balance to perform well and reduce the risk of injury. The muscles of the trunk and diaphragm play an important role in maintaining stability, posture, and movement control during sports activities. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of core stability training combined with balloon breathing exercises on dynamic balance, hop performance, and core endurance in professional football players. Balloon breathing exercises are designed to improve diaphragmatic breathing and trunk muscle activation. Eligible football players will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will receive core stability training combined with balloon breathing exercises along with regular football training, while the other group will receive core stability training with regular football training only. The intervention will be performed three times per week for eight weeks under the supervision of a physiotherapist. Outcome measures, including dynamic balance, hop performances, core endurance, and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), will be assessed at baseline, during the intervention, at the end of the program, and at a three-month follow-up. The findings of this study may help improve training strategies aimed at enhancing performance and reducing injury risk in football players.
NCT07027592
The goal of this observational study is to learn how training habits and general health status are related to injury risk in veteran football players (men over 35 years old who play recreational football). The main questions it aims to answer are: Do specific training patterns (such as frequency, intensity, and duration) increase or lower the risk of injury? How does general health status (including factors like sleep, nutrition, and existing health conditions) affect injury risk? Participants will: Complete questionnaires about their training habits, lifestyle, and general health Report any injuries they experience during the football season Attend periodic health assessments
NCT07366320
This study investigates whether four weeks of Rhodiola rosea supplementation can improve physical fitness, neuromuscular performance, and decision-making ability in competitive male football players. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either Rhodiola rosea or a placebo while continuing their regular football training. Before and after the four-week intervention, all participants complete a series of tests, including aerobic fitness, repeated sprint ability, jumping performance, reaction time, and soccer-specific decision-making tasks. Blood samples are also collected to assess fatigue and recovery-related markers. The purpose of this study is to determine whether Rhodiola rosea supplementation can enhance performance and cognitive function under high-intensity training and competition conditions.
NCT07326475
Currently, it is difficult to find studies in the literature comparing proprioception exercises with the effect of manual therapy on improving balance, and in the long run it may translate into improved activity, functionality and injury prevention in athletes, when planning training or therapy, e.g. in patients after ankle sprains.
NCT07319962
American football has become an increasingly popular sport in Türkiye, and one of the key determinants of success in this discipline is the development of strong aerobic and anaerobic exercise capacities. Previous research has examined arterial stiffness in various athletic populations, including endurance athletes, wrestlers, badminton players, volleyball players, and soccer players. These studies highlight the importance of detailed cardiovascular and hemodynamic evaluation to identify potential risk groups and to better understand sport-specific physiological adaptations. In sports requiring prolonged physical effort, maximal oxygen uptake is a major determinant of performance, underscoring the need to assess this parameter in elite athletic populations. Although a limited number of studies have investigated aerobic and anaerobic exercise capacities in American football athletes, no research to date has evaluated arterial stiffness or intercostal muscle oxygenation in this group. The present study aims to investigate arterial stiffness, intercostal muscle oxygenation, aerobic and anaerobic exercise capacity, and upper-extremity endurance in elite American football players compared with sedentary individuals. A cross-sectional study design will be used. Elite male athletes from the Gazi University American Football Team who volunteer to participate will be included, and their results will be compared with age- and sex-matched sedentary individuals. A total of 15 elite male athletes and 15 sedentary participants aged 18-30 years will be enrolled. All participants will undergo standardized assessments of arterial stiffness, intercostal muscle oxygenation, aerobic and anaerobic capacity, and upper-extremity endurance. Normality of variables will be assessed using visual inspection and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests. Descriptive statistics will be reported as means, standard deviations, and 95% confidence intervals for normally distributed variables, and medians with interquartile ranges (25th-75th percentiles) for non-normally distributed variables. Frequencies and percentages will be used for categorical data. Between-group comparisons will be conducted using the independent samples t-test for normally distributed variables and the Mann-Whitney U test for non-normally distributed variables. Categorical variables will be analyzed using the chi-square test. A p-value of \<0.05 will be considered statistically significant.
NCT06590792
The goal of this clinical trial is to search about if there is any relationship between the aortic stiffness and oxidative stress response in adolescent football players. The main questions are; * Is there any difference between the adolescent football players and healthy sedentary control group in terms of oxidative stress and aortic stiffness parameters? * Is there any relationship between the aortic stiffness and oxidative response to acute exercise training in adolescent male football players? Participants will perform acute exhaustive exercise training. Venous blood will be drained before and after exercise training. Oxidative parameters will be measured.
NCT07017049
This study investigates the effects of a 12-week Integrative Neuromuscular Training (INT) program on physical fitness, balance, and dribbling skills in male high school soccer players in Shandong, China. INT, which combines strength, agility, balance, core stability, and proprioception, has been shown internationally to enhance athletic performance and prevent injuries among youth athletes. While widely applied in sports like basketball, volleyball, and swimming abroad, research on INT in Chinese male soccer players remains limited. A total of 60 male soccer players (aged 16-18) with at least two years of training experience will be recruited from two high schools in Jinan and divided equally into experimental and control groups. The experimental group will undergo INT three times per week for 12 weeks, while the control group will continue regular soccer training. The study will measure changes in strength, speed, endurance, flexibility, static and dynamic balance, and dribbling performance. Data collection spans 16 weeks, including pre-tests, intervention, and post-tests. Statistical analysis will be conducted using SPSS 26.0, employing descriptive statistics, GEE models, and repeated measures ANOVA. This research aims to provide scientific evidence for the use of INT in youth soccer training in China.
NCT06445478
Our aim in the study is; Comparison of blood flow restrictive exercises and isokinetic exercises in female football players. 30 female football players between the ages of 18-30 who came to DOIT Health \& Sports clinic to receive rehabilitation will be included in the study. Participants will be randomized into 2 groups. Resistant exercise with blood flow restrictive exercise (BFR-RE) will be applied to one group, and resistant exercise with isokinetic device (ID-RE) will be applied to the other group. An 8-week exercise protocol will be created for both groups and exercise training will be given twice a week. Demographic data form, Kineo Intelligent Load Isokinetic Device to measure muscle strength, tape measure to measure circumference, universal goniometer for joint range of motion, Illinois Agility Test for agility and quality of life; World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Short Form Turkish Version will be administered before exercise, at the 4th week and at the 8th week. The effectiveness of the applications for female football players and their advantages over each other will be examined. The 4-week and 8-week effects of 2 types of exercise will be examined.
NCT05736783
Football is a trendy sport in the world. A typical footballer runs more than 10 kilometers in an average game of 90 minutes. FIFA regulates the sport of football and the world cup is conducted every 4 years. Plyometric exercise training uses speed and different forced movements to build muscle power. Plyometrics training improves physical performance and the ability to do different activities. Strengthening exercises are designed to increase the strength of specific groups of muscles. Strengthening exercises overload the muscle until the point of muscle fatigue. By conducting the study, it will help us to make a better understanding that whether plyometrics or strength training is more effective so that we can cooperate it into the regular exercise of the football player so that their sports performance can be enhanced.
NCT05056792
This study aims to investigate the influence of an eight-week plyometric and quadriceps strength training program on muscular strength, sprint, and functional performance in collegiate football players.
NCT05612126
Sporting activities such as football tournaments are instrumental in promoting community mental health. A community-based football tournament intervention will benefit the participating individuals' physical and mental health and promote community cohesion. The anticipated benefits of the proposed football tournament are: * To bring a greater sense of community cohesion and togetherness. * To improve physical and mental health (e.g., increase fitness, reduce anxiety, depression, loneliness, suicidal ideation or self-harm).
NCT04285593
1541/5000 The aim of the Bulgarian squat is to improve the hamstring strength and the stability of the knees, thus reducing asymmetries in the lower limbs. It consists in achieving greater strength and stability of the lower limbs to adapt the athlete to the demands of training and competitions as safely as possible. The main objective of the study is to assess the effectiveness of the Bulgarian squat, in the improvement of asymmetries in lower limbs; improving hamstring strength and knee stability. Randomized, simple blind clinical study. 30 soccer players will be randomized to the study groups: experimental (Bulgarian squats) and control (non-intervention team routine). The treatment will last 4 weeks, with 2 weekly sessions of 10 minutes each. The study variables will be: lower limb strength (vertical jump with the My Jump 2 application), lower limb stability (Y ™ -Balance test) and lower limb asymmetries (Triple Hop Test, Single Hop Test for Distance and Functional Movement Screen) The normality of the sample will be calculated using the Kolmogorov -Smirnof test. The changes after each evaluation will be analyzed with the t-student test and with an ANOVA of repeated measures, the intra and intersubject effect will be observed. The effect size will be calculated using Cohen's formula. An improvement in the strength, stability and asymmetries of the lower limbs in soccer players is expected.
NCT04837300
This study aims to evaluate the short-term effects of resisted sprint training on sprint performance together with lower limb physiological and functional performance in young professional football players.
NCT04752514
the purpose of this study is to determine dynamic instability prevalence in United Arab Emirates football players.