Adolescent Elite Athletes: Trunk Mobility, Lower Extremity Flexibility, and Functional Balance Across Sports (TEF-BALANCE)

September 4, 2026 updated by: Burçin Uğur Tosun, Eastern Mediterranean University

A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study of Trunk Mobility, Hamstring Flexibility, and Functional Balance Across Different Sports in Elite Adolescent Male Athletes

This cross-sectional observational study compared trunk mobility, hamstring flexibility, and dynamic functional balance performance among elite male adolescent athletes aged 15-17 years from different sports branches, including wrestling, sprint athletics, canoe/kayak, and taekwondo.

All assessments were conducted during a single baseline evaluation session using standardized, non-invasive clinical measurement tools. Trunk mobility was assessed using a digital inclinometer, hamstring flexibility was evaluated with the passive Straight Leg Raise test using a goniometer, and dynamic functional balance was measured using the Y-Balance Test composite score on the dominant lower extremity.

The findings of this study provide sport-specific reference data and contribute to the identification of biomechanical characteristics related to mobility, flexibility, and balance in elite adolescent athletes across different sports disciplines.

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.

Detailed Description

This study was conducted as a cross-sectional observational investigation in elite male adolescent athletes aged 15-17 years who were actively training and competing in different sports branches, including wrestling, sprint athletics, canoe/kayak, and taekwondo. The study aimed to compare trunk mobility, hamstring flexibility, and dynamic functional balance performance across different sports disciplines and to identify sport-specific biomechanical characteristics in this population.

All participants underwent a single baseline assessment at study enrollment. Trunk mobility was evaluated using a digital inclinometer to measure active spinal flexion, extension, and rotation at the lumbosacral and thoracolumbar regions. Hamstring flexibility was assessed on the dominant lower extremity using the passive Straight Leg Raise test with a clinical goniometer. Dynamic functional balance was assessed using the Y-Balance Test, and a normalized composite score was calculated based on anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral reach distances.

Demographic and training-related characteristics, including age, training history, sport branch, and dominant limb, were recorded for descriptive purposes. Body composition parameters, including body fat percentage and body mass index, were obtained for participant profiling only and were not analyzed as primary study outcomes.

All assessments were non-invasive and were performed by an experienced physiotherapist using standardized clinical protocols. The findings of this study are expected to provide sport-specific reference values, support performance evaluation, and contribute to injury risk awareness and biomechanical profiling in elite adolescent athlete populations.

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.
125

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

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

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of elite male adolescent athletes aged 15-17 years who are actively training and competing in different sports branches, including wrestling, sprint athletics, canoe/kayak, and taekwondo. Participants are recruited from sports performance centers and evaluated using standardized, non-invasive clinical assessments of trunk mobility, flexibility, and functional balance.

Description

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male adolescent athletes aged 15-17 years
  • Licensed and actively training and competing in their respective sports branch
  • Minimum of 3 years of continuous training experience
  • Ability to complete all clinical and biomechanical assessments
  • Written informed consent obtained from the participant and a parent or legal guardian

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Acute musculoskeletal injury within the past 3 months
  • Chronic lower extremity or spinal pathology
  • History of orthopedic surgery within the past 6 months
  • Neurological, metabolic, or systemic condition affecting movement or balance
  • Inability to comply with the testing protocol or incomplete assessment data

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.
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.
Wrestling Athletes Group/ Cohort
Elite male adolescent athletes competing in wrestling.
Other: No intervention
No intervention was administered. This study was observational in nature
Sprint Athletes Group/ Cohort
Elite male adolescent athletes competing in sprint athletics.
Other: No intervention
No intervention was administered. This study was observational in nature
Canoe/Kayak Athletes Group/ Cohort
Elite male adolescent athletes competing in canoe/kayak disciplines.
Other: No intervention
No intervention was administered. This study was observational in nature
Taekwondo Athletes Group/ Cohort
Elite male adolescent athletes competing in taekwondo.
Other: No intervention
No intervention was administered. This study was observational in nature

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
Y-Balance Test Composite Score (%)
Time Frame: At study enrollment (single baseline assessment)
Dynamic functional balance performance assessed using the Y-Balance Test. The composite score is calculated from normalized anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral reach distances performed on the dominant lower extremity.
At study enrollment (single baseline assessment)

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
Trunk Mobility - Inclinometer Range of Motion (°)
Time Frame: At study enrollment (single baseline assessment)
Spinal mobility assessed using a digital inclinometer. Active trunk flexion, extension, and rotation angles are measured at the lumbosacral and thoracolumbar regions and recorded in degrees on the dominant side.
At study enrollment (single baseline assessment)
Hamstring Flexibility - Straight Leg Raise Angle (°)
Time Frame: At study enrollment (single baseline assessment)
Hamstring flexibility evaluated using the passive Straight Leg Raise test on the dominant lower extremity. The maximum tolerated hip flexion angle is measured in degrees using a clinical goniometer.
At study enrollment (single baseline assessment)
Body Fat Percentage (%)
Time Frame: At study enrollment (single baseline assessment)
Body fat percentage measured using a multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis device. This parameter is collected for descriptive and profiling purposes only.
At study enrollment (single baseline assessment)
Body Mass Index (BMI, kg/m²)
Time Frame: At study enrollment (single baseline assessment)
Body mass index calculated as body weight divided by height squared (kg/m²). BMI is collected for descriptive and participant profiling purposes only.
At study enrollment (single baseline assessment)

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

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Toros 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.
  • Study Chair: burcin ugur tosun, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Olympic Preparation Center, Adana, 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.
December 11, 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.
March 11, 2026

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.
March 16, 2026

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).
December 26, 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.
January 31, 2026

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.
February 9, 2026

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.
September 9, 2026

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 4, 2026

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, 2026

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.
  • TU-SBF-2025-10-27

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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