"Muscle Strength, Balance, and Core Endurance in Elite Adolescent Rowers: A Cross-Sectional Study" (REBCORE)

September 23, 2025 updated by: Burçin Uğur Tosun, Eastern Mediterranean University

The Relationship Between Lower Extremity Strength, Dynamic Balance, and Core Endurance in Elite Youth Rowers: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

This study aims to investigate the relationship between lower extremity isokinetic strength, dynamic balance, and core muscle endurance in elite adolescent rowers aged 14-17. A total of 68 athletes (31 males, 37 females) will be assessed through standardized protocols involving isokinetic testing, the Y Balance Test, and McGill Core Endurance Tests. The study aims to contribute to performance monitoring and injury prevention strategies in rowing sports.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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.

Detailed Description

This observational cross-sectional study aims to investigate the relationships between lower extremity muscle strength, dynamic balance, and core endurance in elite adolescent rowers aged 14-17. A total of 68 rowers (32 females, 36 males) licensed by the Turkish Rowing Federation were included. All participants had a minimum of two years of rowing experience and trained at least four days per week.

Lower extremity muscle strength was assessed using isokinetic dynamometry at angular velocities of 60°/s and 300°/s. Core endurance was evaluated using the McGill Core Endurance Test Battery, including trunk flexor, extensor, and lateral plank tests. Dynamic balance was assessed via the Y Balance Test and normalized to leg length.

The study also examined potential sex-based differences in neuromuscular performance and investigated inter-variable correlations among muscle strength, balance, and core endurance. In addition, asymmetry in dynamic balance performance was analyzed as a risk factor for performance and injury.

This study is expected to provide practical insights for sports physiotherapists and coaches working with adolescent rowers, particularly in optimizing performance and designing sex-specific injury prevention strategies.

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 (Actual)

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.
68

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

  • Cyprus
      • Famagusta, Cyprus, 99010
        • Burcin Ugur Tosun

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

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of 68 elite adolescent rowers (32 females, 36 males) aged 16 to 18 years, actively competing and training under the Turkish Rowing Federation. All participants were healthy, licensed athletes with at least two years of regular rowing experience and were training at least five times per week at a national-level rowing training center.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Elite adolescent rowers aged 16 to 18 years

Licensed athletes training at least 5 days per week

Registered with a national-level rowing team or rowing education program

Minimum 2 years of regular rowing experience

No current musculoskeletal or neurological injury

Voluntary participation with informed consent (parental consent required for minors)

Exclusion Criteria:

History of lower extremity or spinal surgery

Current injury or condition affecting strength, balance, or posture

Diagnosed neurological disorder or vestibular dysfunction

Acute illness, severe fatigue, or muscle soreness on the day of testing

Active menstruation phase in female participants on the day of testing

Lack of cooperation or unwillingness to follow instructions

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.
Male Athletes
Elite male adolescent rowers (n=36), aged 16-18, participating in national-level rowing training at least 5 times per week.
Female Athletes
Elite female adolescent rowers (n=32), aged 16-18, participating in national-level rowing training at least 5 times per week.

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
Composite Y Balance Test Score (%)
Time Frame: Cross-sectional assessment at baseline (single visit)
Dynamic balance will be assessed using the Y Balance Test. Reach distances in three directions will be normalized to limb length, and a composite balance score will be calculated. The outcome will be used to compare balance performance across sex groups.
Cross-sectional assessment at baseline (single visit)
Isokinetic Quadriceps Peak Torque at 60°/s (Nm)
Time Frame: Cross-sectional assessment at baseline (single visit)
Peak torque of the dominant quadriceps muscle will be measured using an isokinetic dynamometer at an angular velocity of 60°/s. The outcome will be recorded in Newton-meters (Nm) and used to analyze muscle strength differences between groups.
Cross-sectional assessment at baseline (single visit)
Core Extensor Endurance Time (seconds)
Time Frame: Cross-sectional assessment at baseline (single visit)
Trunk extensor endurance will be evaluated using the McGill Trunk Extensor Endurance Test. Participants will maintain a horizontal prone posture over the edge of a bench with the pelvis stabilized. The maximum time (in seconds) that the position can be held with proper form will be recorded as the endurance score.
Cross-sectional assessment at baseline (single visit)

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.
Eastern Mediterranean University

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.
  • Principal Investigator: burcin ugur tosun, PHD, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Olympic Preparation Center, Adana, Türkiye
  • Study Chair: gulhan yilmaz gokmen, Assoc. Prof, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University, Bandırma, Balıkesir, Türkiye

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 (Actual)

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.
June 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

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.
July 20, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

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.
July 31, 2025

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).
July 12, 2025

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.
July 12, 2025

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.
July 22, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

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.
September 24, 2025

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.
September 23, 2025

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.
September 1, 2025

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.
  • 2025-06

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.

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