Core Stability Training and Athletic Performance in Amateur Footballers (KICK)

February 7, 2025 updated by: Maria Paço, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, Politécnico e Universitário

Core Stability and Performance: a Randomized Control Trial in Amateur Football Players

This study aims to evaluate the effects of a core strengthening program on the athletic performance of amateur football players aged 18 to 35. Conducted as a double-blind randomized controlled trial, the research compares two groups: one undergoing traditional football training combined with a 12-week core strengthening program, and another following only regular training and matches.

Key outcomes include:

Core strength (measured using the Plank Endurance Test), Balance (assessed through the Y-Balance Test), Functional power (evaluated with the Vertical Jump Test), Overall Athletic Performance: Illinois (assessed through Illinois Agility Test)

Participants will be randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. Assessments will be conducted pre- and post-intervention to determine the program's impact on physical fitness and performance. The findings will provide insights into whether targeted core training enhances key physical attributes and athletic abilities, critical to injury prevention, functional capacity, and athletic performance.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study will investigate the effects of a core strengthening program on the physical fitness and athletic performance of amateur football players aged 18 to 35. Designed as a double-blind randomized controlled trial, the research aims to provide robust evidence on how targeted core training influences key performance indicators, offering practical applications for physiotherapy, sports science, and athletic training.

Study Purpose

Core muscles play a pivotal role in stabilizing the spine, transferring forces, and enhancing movement efficiency during athletic activities. Weakness or instability in the core can lead to suboptimal performance and increase the risk of injuries, particularly in sports like football, where balance, agility, and power are essential. This study seeks to evaluate whether a structured, evidence-based core strengthening program can enhance core strength, balance, functional power, and overall athletic performance in amateur football players.

Methodology

A total of 50 male amateur football players from local clubs will be invited to voluntarily participate in the study. Participants will be randomly divided into two groups:

Experimental Group: Traditional football training combined with a 12-week core strengthening program.

Control Group: Followed only regular football training. The core strengthening program, inspired by McGill's principles of core training, includes progressive exercises performed three times per week for 12 weeks. Each session will last 15 minutes and will be integrated into the players' regular training schedules.

Assessments

Participants will perform comprehensive evaluations at the beginning and end of the study to measure the following outcomes:

Core Strength: Plank Endurance Test, a validated measure of muscular endurance. Balance: Evaluated with the Y-Balance Test, to assess dynamic balance and agility.

Functional Power: Measured using the Vertical Jump Test, to evaluate lower limb strength and explosive power.

Overall Athletic Performance: Illinois Agility Test, to assess agility..

Expected Impact

The findings are expected to highlight the effect of targeted core training in optimizing physical performance. This study underscores the importance of core stability as a foundational component of athletic conditioning, offering practical applications for physiotherapists, sports scientists, coaches, and athletes aiming to enhance performance and maintain physical health.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

50

Phase

  • 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 Backup

Study Locations

  • Portugal
    • Braga
      • Vila Nova de Famalicão, Braga, Portugal, 4760-409
        • Escola Superior de Saúde do Vale do Ave
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • Maria A Paço, PhD
        • Contact:
          • Paula D Chaves, PhD

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male amateur football players aged between 18 and 35 years,
  • Active members of local football clubs;
  • Medically cleared and physically fit to participate in regular training sessions and matches.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals already engaged in a core strengthening program;
  • Participants with injuries or medical conditions that contraindicate participation in the study or could interfere with the intervention.

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: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental
Regular training + Core muscle training
Other: Exercise
core muscle training
No Intervention: Control
Regular training

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Core Strength - Plank Endurance Test
Time Frame: baseline and 12 weeks
Participants assume a prone position, supporting their body weight on forearms and toes, maintaining a straight line from head to heels. The duration for which the position is held without compromising form is recorded, reflecting the endurance capacity of the core musculature.
baseline and 12 weeks
Balance - Y balance test
Time Frame: baseline and 12 weeks
Assesses dynamic balance by having participants reach as far as possible in multiple directions with one foot while maintaining balance on the other, providing insight into lower limb stability and control.
baseline and 12 weeks
Overall Athletic Performance - Illinois Agility Test
Time Frame: baseline and 12 weeks
Measures agility by timing participants as they navigate a predetermined course involving directional changes, reflecting their ability to accelerate, decelerate, and change direction efficiently.
baseline and 12 weeks
Functional Power: Vertical Jump Test
Time Frame: baseline and 12 weeks
Participants perform a maximal vertical jump from a standing position, with the jump height measured to evaluate lower body explosive power.
baseline and 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, Politécnico e Universitário

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Maria A Paço, PhD, H²M - Health and Human Movement Unit, Polytechnic University of Health, CESPU, CRL 4760-409 Vila Nova de Famalicão.
  • Principal Investigator: Paula D Chaves, PhD, H²M - Health and Human Movement Unit, Polytechnic University of Health, CESPU, CRL 4760-409 Vila Nova de Famalicão.

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 (Estimated)

February 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 20, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 4, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 7, 2025

Last Verified

February 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Core stability and performance

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

Deciding whether to share Individual Participant Data (IPD) involves weighing several considerations... we have to further reflect to make an informed decision about sharing IPD, balancing the potential benefits to the scientific community with the responsibility to protect participant rights and data integrity.

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

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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