Dynamic vs. PNF Quadriceps Stretching in Cyclists

November 26, 2025 updated by: Çiçek Günday, Istinye University

Comparison of the Effects of Dynamic and PNF Stretching Applied to the Quadriceps Muscle Group on Muscle Performance, Muscle Strength, and Joint Range of Motion in Professional Cyclists

Following an initial assessment, 30 professional cyclists will be divided into two groups (1:1). PNF stretching will be applied to the Quadriceps muscles of the participants in Group A, while Group B will perform dynamic stretching on the Quadriceps muscles. After the interventions, all participants will undergo a second assessment. The study aims to compare the immediate effects of these two different types of stretching on muscle performance, strength and joint range of motion. Participants will attend a single day for both the assessments and the intervention sessions.

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.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

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.
Interventional

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.
30

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

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 Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
        • Istinye University Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Application and Research Center (ISUFIZYOTEM)

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

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Being a professional cyclist (training intensively at least 4-5 times per week and having a minimum of 5-10 years of cycling experience).
  • Voluntary participation in the study.
  • No recent history of sports-related injury.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of neurological, orthopedic, or cardiovascular diseases.

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

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: PNF Stretching
Other: PNF Stretching
Dynamic stretching of the quadriceps will be performed using walking lunges. This exercise dynamically stretches the quadriceps and hip flexors while also improving balance and coordination. During the exercise, participants stand upright, step one leg forward, and lower their body by bending the knee. They then step forward with the other leg to complete the movement. Ten steps will be performed for each leg.
Experimental: Dynamic Stretching
Other: Dynamic Stretching
The "Hold-Relax" technique will be applied. Hold-Relax PNF stretching is based on the principle of isometric contraction of the muscle followed by passive stretching. This technique is effective for increasing muscle flexibility and reducing muscle tension. The medial and lateral parts of the quadriceps will be stretched by Flexion-Adduction-External Rotation and Flexion-Abduction-Internal Rotation patterns3. During the exercise, participants will lie prone with the knee flexed. They will be asked to attempt knee extension while the movement is resisted by the physiotherapist. The contraction will be maintained for 10 seconds, after which the participant will be instructed to relax. Following relaxation, the knee flexion angle will be increased. Ten repetitions will be performed for each leg.

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
Vertical Jump Test
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 month
The vertical jump test is performed by instructing an athlete to jump as high as possible from a standing position. Typically, the athlete will first stand and reach upward to mark the highest point they can touch while standing. Then, they will jump as high as possible, and the jump height will be recorded. The difference between the standing reach and jump height is calculated as the vertical jump distance.
Through study completion, an average of 1 month
Anaerobic Power Step Test
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 month
It involves stepping up and down on a platform of a specified height. The participant will step rapidly and rhythmically on the platform for 30 and 60 seconds, aiming to complete as many steps as possible. The total number of steps will be recorded at the end of the test. Proper form and rhythmic stepping will be emphasized during the test; the athlete must place the entire foot on the platform and achieve full extension with each step. The data obtained from this test will be used to assess the athlete's anaerobic capacity and lower-body explosive power
Through study completion, an average of 1 month

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
Lower Extremity Muscle Strength
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 month
Lower extremity muscle strength will be measured using the Lafayette Hand-Held Dynamometer (HHD). During its application, the Lafayette HHD measures the force generated during the muscle's maximal isometric contraction. Knee flexion, knee extension, hip flexion and hip extension muscle strength will be measured. The measurement will be repeated three times.
Through study completion, an average of 1 month
Lower Extremity Joint Range of Motion
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 month
Lower extremity joint range of motion will be assessed using a goniometer. The joint range of motion measurements will include hip flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal and external rotation, as well as knee flexion and extension.
Through study completion, an average of 1 month

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.
Istinye 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: Çiçek Günday, Asst. Prof., Istinye University
  • Study Chair: Arda Akça, Physiotherapist, Istinye University
  • Study Chair: Elif Berfin Bulut, Physiotherapist, Istinye University

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.
September 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.
October 27, 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.
October 27, 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).
September 2, 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.
September 2, 2025

First Posted (Estimated)

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.
September 10, 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.
December 3, 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.
November 26, 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.
November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

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.
  • 02092025

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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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