The Degree, Development and Interrelationship of Structural and Functional Asymmetry in (Pre)Adolescent Elite Tennis Players (AsymTen)

April 20, 2017 updated by: Laurent Chapelle

The Degree, Development and Interrelationship of Structural and Functional Asymmetry in (Pre)Adolescent Elite Tennis Players: A Prospective Cohort Study With a Link to Growth and Maturation, Technical Skill Performance and Whole Body Injury

Humans generally develop a preferred upper and lower extremity. Due to repetitive uneven loading, this gradually results in structural (e.g. increased bone and muscle mass) and functional (e.g. increased strength) adaptations to the dominant side of the body. The corresponding structural and functional asymmetry can be further accentuated by (intensively) practicing a unilateral sport such as tennis, which is very popular. Yet, research on this particular topic is scarce, especially in (pre)adolescent players. Existing studies, which often face methodological shortcomings (e.g. crosssectional designs, small sample sizes, no link to field methods), mainly focus on adults and structural asymmetry of the upper extremity itself, with very little or no attention to whole body structural as well as functional asymmetry. Moreover, the link of both forms of asymmetry with growth and maturation, everyday locomotion, technical skill performance and whole body injury is currently not (fully) understood. Therefore, the main purpose of this research project is to gain comprehensive knowledge on the degree, development and implications of both structural and functional asymmetry during a critical period in life using a longitudinal approach. As such, this project among youth elite tennis players will provide insights on the extent to which structural and/or functional asymmetry is acceptable for being most successful but remaining injury free.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Unknown

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Anticipated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
240

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Belgium
      • Brussels, Belgium, 1050
        • Physical Education and Physical Therapy

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

8 years to 16 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Young elite tennis players enrolled in Belgian high-performance tennis academies as well as age- and gender-matched (within two months) controls.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Being enrolled in a Belgian high-performance tennis academy

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Injury at the start of the data collection, any known musculoskeletal abnormality, developmental disorder or metabolic disease.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Age- and gender-matched controls
Elite (pre)adolescent tennis players

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Anthropometry
Time Frame: September 2017 - December 2020

Stature (cm) Sitting height (cm) Upper- and lower extremity length (cm) body weight (kg) Body Mass Index (kg/m²) Age at Peak height Velocity (years) Skeletal muscle mass (kg)

These values will be determined every two months during a maximum period of three years, expressed as mean and standard deviation and will be used to develop growth charts and velocity curves.
September 2017 - December 2020
Body composition
Time Frame: September 2017 - December 2020

Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry

  • lean mass (g)
  • fat mass (g)
  • bone mass (g)
  • total bone area (cm²)
  • Bone Mineral Content (g)
  • Bone Mineral Density (g/cm²)

Circumferences - upper and lower arm, thigh and calf (in cm)

Ultrasound

- Muscle thickness ((in mm) of M. Biceps, M. Triceps, M. Rectus Abdominis, Quadriceps and Hamstrings)

Bioelectric impedance

  • fat (g)
  • fat free mass (g)

These outcome measures will be determined on both the dominant and the non-dominant extremity/side every six months during a maximum period of three years. The side-to-side difference will be calculated using the symmetry index (see outcome measure 4). Every outcome measure described above will be expressed as mean and standard deviation for both the dominant and non-dominant extremity/side
September 2017 - December 2020
Functional test battery
Time Frame: September 2017 - December 2020

Strength and Power:

  • Seated shot put functional test (distance in cm)
  • Grip Strength (kg)
  • Unilateral countermovement jump (distance in cm)
  • Single hop test (distance in cm)
  • Medicine Ball throws (distance in cm)

Speed and Agility:

  • Plate tapping (time s)
  • Single leg 6-m hop test (time in s)

Balance and Flexibility:

  • Upper- and Lower extremity Y-balance test (distance in cm)
  • Standing On One Leg with Eyes Closed (time in s)

Motor control and Coordination:

  • Unilateral hand wall toss test (score in points)
  • 270 degrees tap test (time in s)

Locomotion pattern:

- Ground Reaction Forces (force in N)

Every test will be performed unilaterally for both the dominant and non-dominant extremity/side every six months during a maximum period of three years. The side-to-side difference will be calculated using the symmetry index (see outcome measure 4). The mean (plus standard deviation) of every test (dominant and non-dominant test score) will be reported
September 2017 - December 2020
Structural and functional asymmetry index
Time Frame: September 2017 - December 2020

Side-to-side difference (i.e. dominant vs non-dominant extremity/side) will be calculated and expressed as a percentage (extremity symmetry index (%)) for the outcome measures described above (anthropometry, body composition and functional test battery) using following formula:

((measure dominant extremity/measure non-dominant extremity)-1) x 100
September 2017 - December 2020

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Injury incidence
Time Frame: September 2017 - December 2020
Injury incidence in young elite tennis players (patterns and occurence) will be recorded and reported continuously for a maximum period of three years.
September 2017 - December 2020
Technical tennis skills performance
Time Frame: September 2017 - December 2020

technical skill of young elite tennis players. - Technical skill performance will be examined by means of video analysis once a year and scored by an independent expert panel. Mean technical ability will be reported.

Tennis specific performance:

- Tennis players will perform the Dutch Technical-Tactical Tennis Test (D4T) once a year. The mean test score will be reported.
September 2017 - December 2020

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Laurent Chapelle

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Eva D'Hondt, PhD, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
  • Study Director: Peter Clarys, PhD, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Anticipated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 1, 2017

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 15, 2020

Study Completion (Anticipated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 31, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 28, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 20, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 25, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 25, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 20, 2017

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Asymmetry in tennis

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual Participant Data (IPD) will not be shared or will not be available to other researchers

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Development; Unilateral

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