Elastic Band Training Effects on Knee Strength and Performance in Female Football Players

The Influence of Elastic Band Resistance Training on Knee Joint Muscle Strength and Performance-Related Parameters in Female Football Players: a Comparison of Three Development Phases

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the effects of an 8-week strength training program with elastic bands on several physical components in female football players at the U15, U19, and Senior levels. The main question it aims to answer is:

Will a specific elastic band resistance training help improve some components of physical performance in female football players?

Participants will perform a bi-weekly elastic band resistance training program lasting 20 minutes per session over 8 weeks. This program will be incorporated into their in-season regimen, with assessments conducted in the week prior (week 0) and after the intervention (week 9).

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Physical Performance Parameters
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: EBT

Detailed Description

This study will involve U15´, U19´ and adult female football (soccer) players doing a specific elastic band training plan over a period of 8 weeks. This plan will be done twice a week and will consist of 6 exercises, divided into two training sessions, each lasting approximately 20 minutes.

The week before the study begins (week 0), a demonstration will be given of the assessments and training plan that will be carried out during the following weeks, so that the participants have a better idea of what will happen. In addition, their height and weight will also have to be measured, followed by the first assessments. They will also fill in a questionnaire about their training habits and injury history.

They will then be randomized into two possible groups: the experimental group (EG) and the control group (CG). If the participant stays in the EG, she will have to do the above protocol and if she stays in the CG, she will only have to do the assessments, which will be done in the familiarization week (week 0) and the ninth week (week 9).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Portugal
  • Porto
    • Maia, Porto, Portugal, 4475-690, Maia
      • Recruiting
      • University of Maia
      • Contact: Henrique Sousa, MSc.; Phone Number: +351934551303; Email: hsousa.dcd@umaia.pt

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• belong to the U-15, U-19 or Senior level of a women's football (soccer) club;
• be apart of a football championship (district or national)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental: Elastic Band Group; Athletes that will participate in a bi-weekly elastic band resistance training program.	Other: EBT; Elastic Band Resistance Training
No Intervention: Control: Standard Group; Athletes that will continue doing their standard training regiment.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Knee extension and flexion isometric strength	Maximal isometric knee extension and flexion force will be measured using a handheld dynamometer (DynaMo Plus, VALD Performance, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia). For the knee extension assessment, participants will be in a seated position, whereas during the knee flexion evaluation, the participants will be in a prone position. To generate their maximal torque, the dynamometer chain length will be adjusted so that their knee angle will be at ∼60° and ∼30°, for the knee extension and flexion, respectively. Participants will then apply a maximal isometric effort, maintaining it for 5s, without any subsidiary body movements.	The evaluations will be conducted in the week prior (week 0) and after the intervention (week 9).
Vertical jump	Jump height will be evaluated using force plates (ForceDecks, Vald). The players will perform the countermovement jump, where they will begin from an upright position; a rapid downward movement to a knee angle of ∼90°, immediately transitioning to propel themselves upwards into the air.	The evaluations will be conducted in the week prior (week 0) and after the intervention (week 9).
Change of direction sprint	The Modified T-Test will be implemented to assess change of direction sprint. This evaluation has within itself directional changes such as forward sprinting, left and right-side shuffling, and backpedaling. Photocells (WhittyGate, Microgate, Bolzano, Italy) will be used for a more precise time count.	The evaluations will be conducted in the week prior (week 0) and after the intervention (week 9).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Henrique Sousa
• Collaborators: University Institute of Maia; Portugal Football School, Federação Portuguesa de Futebol

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): January 29, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 11, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 28, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 18, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 23, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 23, 2025
• Last Verified: January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Women; Performance; Resistance Training; Football; Elastic Bands
• Other Study ID Numbers: EBT_HS_02

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No