Effects of Corrective Exercises in Adolescent Fencers (FMS exercise)

April 16, 2025 updated by: Seda Uluşahin, Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

Effects of Corrective Exercises on Trunk Endurance, Jumping Performance and Reaction Time in Adolescent Fencers

The goal is to learn if a Functional Corrective Training (FCT) exercise program improves posture, core muscle endurance, jumping ability, and reaction time in adolescent fencers.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does the FCT program improve trunk muscle endurance?

Does the FCT program enhance athletic performance, such as jump height and reaction time?

Researchers will compare adolescent fencers who receive an 8-week FCT exercise program to those who continue regular training only.

Participants will:

Be assigned randomly to either an exercise group (FCT) or a control group

Undergo Functional movement screen, endurance, jumping, and reaction time assessments before and after the 8-week period

Continue their usual fencing training throughout the study

The study will help determine whether adding corrective exercises to standard training can improve function and performance in young athletes.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled single-blind study investigates the effects of an 8-week Functional Corrective Training (FCT) program on trunk muscle endurance, jump performance, and reaction time in adolescent fencers.

Background and Rationale:

Fencing is a dynamic sport that demands high levels of coordination, agility, strength, and cognitive processing. Due to its asymmetric and high-intensity nature, fencing may lead to movement pattern deficiencies, postural imbalances, and a higher risk of overuse injuries, particularly during adolescence-a critical period for neuromuscular development. Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a validated tool used to identify these deficiencies, and Functional Corrective Training exercises based on FMS results aim to improve fundamental movement patterns, mobility, and stability.

While prior studies have demonstrated the positive effects of FCT on FMS scores and injury prevention, there is limited and inconsistent evidence on its impact on athletic performance. This study is the first to explore the efficacy of FCT on posture and performance in adolescent fencers, a population with unique sport-specific movement demands.

Study Design and Procedures:

Participants aged 10-19 years, with at least three years of fencing experience and no current pain or recent injury, were randomly assigned to either the FCT group or the control group. Randomization was performed using SPSS software. The intervention group received an individualized 8-week FCT program designed using the FMS Pro 360 software based on each participant's FMS results. The program progressed weekly and was applied under supervision (3 sessions/week) and as a home-based program (3 sessions/week). The control group continued their standard fencing training without additional corrective exercises.

Assessments were conducted at baseline and after the 8-week intervention by two physiotherapists blinded to group allocation. Primary outcome measures included trunk endurance (McGill tests), jump performance (CMJ and SLJ using OptoJump), and reaction time (via optical stimulus response). FMS scores were also evaluated to assess changes in movement patterns.

Data Quality and Management Procedures:

All data were entered into an anonymized electronic database and cross-verified by two independent researchers.

Range and consistency checks were applied to each entry point to ensure data validity.

Source data verification was performed for 20% of participants by comparing the collected data with original forms and digital measurements (OptoJump system output).

A data dictionary was prepared including definitions, coding methods, and measurement units for all variables.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were followed for data collection, storage, participant follow-up, and adverse event reporting.

Participants were instructed and monitored by certified physiotherapists throughout the program. Compliance with home programs was supervised by club trainers, and adherence was documented weekly.

Sample Size and Statistical Analysis:

The study began with 32 participants (n=16 per group). Following attrition, 22 participants (n=11 per group) completed the study. While no formal power analysis was conducted due to the pilot nature of the study, the sample size was deemed adequate to observe preliminary effects.

Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic data. Normality of data distribution was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, histograms, and Q-Q plots. Between-group comparisons were made using independent samples t-test or Mann-Whitney U test depending on data distribution. Within-group changes were evaluated with paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Handling of Missing Data:

Participants with incomplete assessments or missing post-intervention data were excluded from the final analysis. No data imputation was performed. All analyses were conducted on a per-protocol basis.

Safety and Monitoring:

No adverse events related to the intervention were reported. All exercises were performed under professional supervision, and participants were instructed to report any discomfort or issues during sessions.

This study aims to provide new insights into how individualized corrective exercise programs can enhance postural control, muscular endurance, and performance in young athletes, potentially offering a preventive and performance-enhancing strategy for youth sport training.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

32

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 Locations

  • Turkey
    • Kecioren
      • Ankara, Kecioren, Turkey, 06010
        • Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

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

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adolescents aged 10 to 19 years
  • Practicing fencing for at least 3 years
  • Currently pain-free in all body regions
  • Able and willing to participate in regular training and assessment sessions
  • Provided informed consent (and parental consent where applicable)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of sports injury or musculoskeletal rehabilitation in the past 6 months
  • Currently following a specialized exercise program other than the standard strength and conditioning routine used in the club
  • Inability to commit to the full 8-week intervention period or scheduled assessments
  • Any neurological, orthopedic, or systemic conditions affecting movement or physical performance

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: Intervention
Other: Exercise
Individualised corrective exercise protocols based on Functional Movement Screening
No Intervention: No Intervention

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Trunk Muscle Endurance
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Assessed using McGill's core endurance tests (flexion, extension, right and left side bridge tests) in seconds.
Baseline and 8 weeks
Change in Jump Performance
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Measured by Countermovement Jump (CMJ) and Single-Leg Jump (SLJ) height using the OptoJump system /height in centimeters
Baseline and 8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Reaction Time
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Measured via optical stimulus using the OptoJump system for both dominant and non-dominant legs
Baseline and 8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Seda Bicici Ulusahin, PhD, Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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)

March 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

July 30, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

August 15, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 7, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 7, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

April 15, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 20, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 16, 2025

Last Verified

April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2024-227

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Due to concerns regarding participant confidentiality and the lack of explicit consent for data sharing, the individual participant data will not be made available to other researchers.

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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