Effectiveness of a Judo-specific Injury Prevention Programme on Performance in Judo Athletes (JUDO-RCT)

April 14, 2025 updated by: SERCAN YILLI, Hacettepe University

Effectiveness of a Judo-specific Injury Prevention Programme on Performance: a Randomized Controlled Trial in Judo Athletes

Judo is a popular international combat sport with an estimated 20 million active participants world-wide and participation in judo entails a substantial risk of injury in both elite and recreational judo. It is known that judo involves a significantly higher risk of sports per activity compared with another combat sports such as wrestling, karate, taekwondo an deven popular team sports such as football, basketball and volleyball. Therefore, preventing injuries in judo is so important and various interventions can use in this regard. These include; taping, warm-up and cool-down programs, proper technique trainings and exercise programs. Injury prevention programmes in other sports have been proven effective in reducing injury rates for elite and recreational athletes. In judo, research on exercise-based prevention is limited to the description of injury prevention programs, but the effectiveness of these programs has never been evaluated. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the judo-specific ''IPPON'' warm-up programs for injury prevention of judokas on performance parameters and incidence of injuries among professional judo athletes. In this study, the investigators research the Judo-Specific Special Conditioning Test and the Isometric/Dynamic Judogi Grip Strength Test will be evaluated for performance parameters. In addition, the Upper and Lower Extremity Y Balance Test will be evaluated for balance and the Upper Extremity Internal/External Rotation Strength Test and the Lower Extremity Hamstring/Quadriceps Strength Test will be evaluated for muscle strength assessment. The Turkish translation of the Oslo Trauma Research Center Overuse Questionnaire (OSTRC-O) will be used to monitor the incidence of injuries among professional judo athletes.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Judo is a popular international combat sport with an estimated 20 million active participants worldwide. Judo is characterised by the combination of balance, coordination, flexibility, agility, speed and strength with the aim to incapacitate their opponent. It is demanding of the neuromuscular and physical capacity of athletes. Participation in judo entails a substantial risk of injury in both elite and recreational judo. Injury prevention programmes in other sports have been proven effective in reducing injury rates for elite and recreational athletes. In judo, research on exercise-based prevention is limited to the description of injury prevention programmes, but the effectiveness of these programmes has never been evaluated. The main objective of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the bottom-up developed trainer-based IPPON intervention on the performance parameters compared with the usual warm-up in judo athletes. The secondary objectives were to evaluate injury severity, injury incidence, location-specific prevalences, time loss and sudden and gradual onset injury recurrence rates. We hypothesised that the IPPON intervention would increase performance parameters and reduce the overall injury prevalences. The IPPON intervention is an injury prevention programme designed specifically to reduce injuries in judo athletes. IPPON intervention mainly focuses on preventing musculoskeletal injuries of the shoulder, knee and ankle. The IPPON intervention consists of 36 exercises divided into (1) flexibility and agility, (2) balance and coordination and (3) strength and stability. Each category consisted of 12 exercises with 3 levels of difficulty. Athletes performed 4 exercises per category and thus 12 exercises at the start of the training at least two times per week. Prior to the intervention exercises, athletes completed running exercises and falling techniques. Athletes in the control group were instructed to continue their usual warm-up and regular judo practice as warm-up prior to training or competition is standard routine in judo. The duration of the IPPON intervention was aligned with the average duration of the usual warm-up in the control groups. Although, not measured in the study procedure, the approximate duration of warm-up was 15 min in both groups. The primary outcome was the performance parameters (Judo-Specific Special Conditioning Test, Isometric/Dynamic Judogi Grip Strength Test, Upper and Lower Extremity Y Balance Test, Upper Extremity Internal/External Rotation Strength Test, Lower Extremity Hamstring/Quadriceps Strength Test) over 8 weeks of follow-up, and secondary outcome was the overall injury prevalences (injury severity, injury incidence, location-specific prevalences, time loss and sudden and gradual onset injury recurrence rates) measured with the Turkish translation of the Oslo Trauma Research Center Overuse Questionnaire (OSTRC-O) at 2 weekly intervals over 16 weeks of follow-up.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

40

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

  • Turkey
      • Ankara, Turkey
        • Hacettepe University
        • Contact:
      • Ankara, Turkey
        • Hacettepe University, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
        • Contact:

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
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • age should be more than 13 years
  • the asymptomatic judokas with no history of major injury or surgery in last 6 months,
  • having experience in at least 3 years competitive judo,
  • actively participating in competitive judo at least 1 year,
  • competing at least in national level.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • competing in paralympic sports,
  • if they had any major injuries or surgeries in last 6 months,
  • if they had any systemic, neurological or rheumatological diseases,
  • being pre-pubertal stage (Tanner I) according to Tanner Scale,
  • indicated their unwillingness to participate to this study.

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: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group - IPPON Group
Intervention Group will be completed the judo specific exercise programme. It's called as ''IPPON'' warm-up programme. The IPPON intervention is an injury prevention programme designed specifically to reduce injuries in judo athletes.The IPPON intervention consists of 36 exercises divided into (1), flexibility and agility, (2) balance and coordination and (3) strength and stability. Each category consisted of 12 exercises with 3 levels of difficulty. Athletes performed 4 exercises per category and thus 12 exercises at the start of the training at least two times per week.
Other: IPPON warm-up programme
The IPPON intervention is an injury prevention programme designed specifically to reduce injuries in judo athletes. The trainer-supervised IPPON intervention mainly focuses on preventing musculoskeletal injuries of the shoulder, knee and ankle. The IPPON intervention consists of 36 exercises divided into (1) flexibility and agility, (2) balance and coordination and (3) strength and stability. Each category consisted of 12 exercises with 3 levels of difficulty. Athletes performed 4 exercises per category and thus 12 exercises at the start of the training at least two times per week.
No Intervention: Control Group
Athletes in the control group were instructed to continue their usual warm-up and regular judo practice as warm-up prior to training or competition is standard routine in judo. The duration of the IPPON intervention was aligned with the average duration of the usual warm-up in the control groups.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Specific Judo Fitness Test (SJFT)
Time Frame: 8 weeks
The SJFT formula is based ona total of throws (TT) made in three sets (1-15 s, 2-30 s, 3-30 s) separated by a 10 s break and heart rate (HR) collected immediately after the test and after 1 min with the inversely related index as the primary outcome [6]. During each period the athlete (tori) been evaluated throws two partners (uke A and B; far from each by 6 m) as many time as possible using the ippon-seoi-nage technique. Both uke A and B should have a similar height and weight from the tori. Just after and one minute after the test heart rate is measured.
8 weeks
Isometric Judogi Grip Strength Test
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Isometric judogi chin-up: the athletes were asked to keep their elbows flexed with their chin above the hands for as long as possible and holding time was clocked. The test was interrupted as soon as athletes were unable to maintain the initial isometric position. In this test, athletes were encouraged to maintain the position for as long as possible.
8 weeks
Dynamic Judogi Grip Strength Test
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Dynamic judogi chin-up: the athletes were asked to stretch their elbows completely and then flex them until the chin was above the bar and repetitions of the complete exercise were counted. Only repetitions which were carried out completely were counted, and the test was interrupted as soon as athletes were no longer able to carry out the proposed exercise completely and/or gave up voluntarily. In this test, athletes were encouraged to carry out as many dynamic repetitions as possible.
8 weeks
Upper Extremity Y Balance Test (UQ-YBT)
Time Frame: 8 weeks
UQ-YBT: All participants will be provided written instructions and then observed a demonstration performed by one of the investigators. In their socks or barefoot, the participants then assumed a pushup position with feet no greater than shoulder width apart. While maintaining the pushup position, the participant used his/her free hand to maximally reach, slowly and under control, in each of three directions Medial, Inferolateral, and Superolateral in a sequential order without the free hand touching down.
8 weeks
Lower Extremity Y Balance Test (LQ-YBT)
Time Frame: 8 weeks
LQ-YBT: Consisted of unilateral lower extremity reaches in the ANT, PM and PL directions. After written instructions were given and the test was demonstrated by one of the instructors, the participants were asked to keep their stance heel down and hands on hips while performing each reach direction with the non-stance leg in socks or barefoot. After a one-minute rest period, the participants will be completed three formal testing trials for each of the ANT, PM, and PL directions.
8 weeks
Upper Extremity External/Internal Rotation (ER/IR) Muscle Strength Ratio
Time Frame: 8 weeks
For the ER/IR muscle strength measurements, the Hand Held Dynamometer (Jamaar) will be placed 2 cm proximal of the processus styloideus ulnae, on the dorsal (ER strength) or ventral (IR strength) forearm during sitting position. Three repetitions of 5 seconds of maximal voluntary effort were performed using a ''make'' test (gradually increasing resistance up to maximum without ''breaking'' the subject's strength).
8 weeks
Lower Extremity Hamstring/Quadriceps (H/Q) Muscle Strength Ratio
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Participants performed two maximal isometric repetitions intending to flex and extend the knee in each lower limb to assess isometric hamstring and quadriceps strength, respectively. Before the onset of the testing, participants performed a standardized and specific warm-up. For quadriceps, test will be performed on a custom-built bench while participants are in a seated position at 30° of knee flexion and 90° of hip flexion with stabilization straps around the thighs. For hamstring, the participant will be seated at the edge of a table with the hip and knee flexed to 90 degrees and hands gripping the sides of the table while the clinician stabilizes the dynamometer between the participant's leg and table. H/Q ratio will be calculated.
8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Oslo Trauma Research Center Overuse Questionnaire (OSTRC-O)
Time Frame: 16 weeks
The OSTRC questionnaire is about overuse injury and health problems. These questionnaires are tools for injury and illness registration with four essential questions used to assess the severity. Scores in each symptom range from 0 to 100. The range of values in each question is from 0 to 25, with 0 representing no problem and 25 representing the maximum problem level in each question. Therefore, questions 1 and 4 are scored 0-8-17-25, and questions 2 and 3 are scored 0-6-13-19-25.
16 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Hacettepe University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: SERCAN YILLI, MSc, Hacettepe University
  • Principal Investigator: ELIF TURGUT, Professor, Hacettepe University

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 (Estimated)

May 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 27, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 14, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

April 16, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 16, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 14, 2025

Last Verified

April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 03.2025fbu

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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