Acute Impact of Static, Dynamic, and Proprioceptive Exercises on Proprioception, Strength, Balance, and Explosive Power (SSDSPE-RCT)

Comparison of the Acute Effects of Static Stretching, Dynamic Stretching, and Proprioceptive Exercises on Proprioception, Muscle Strength, Balance, and Explosive Power: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the acute effects of static stretching, dynamic stretching, and proprioceptive exercises on proprioception, muscle strength, balance, and explosive power in young athletes. The study aims to determine how different stretching and exercise modalities influence short-term performance parameters.

The primary questions this study aims to answer are:

Do static stretching, dynamic stretching, and proprioceptive exercises have different acute effects on proprioception?

Do these interventions cause different changes in muscle strength, balance, and explosive power?

Researchers will compare the static stretching, dynamic stretching, and proprioceptive exercise groups to determine which method produces greater improvements in the measured performance parameters.

Participants will:

Perform one of the three assigned exercise protocols according to a standardized warm-up procedure

Undergo pre- and post-exercise assessments, including:

Proprioception (measured with an isokinetic device)

Muscle strength (measured with an isokinetic device)

Balance (measured with a Y balance test and BESS balance test)

Explosive power (measured with the Sargent Vertical Jump Test)

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Balance; Neuromuscular Control; Musculoskeletal Function
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Proprioceptive Exercise Group; Other: Dynamic Stretching Exercise Group; Other: Static Stretching Exercise Group

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the acute effects of static stretching, dynamic stretching, and proprioceptive exercises on knee joint position sense (proprioception), muscle strength, balance, and explosive power in young male soccer players.

Proprioception, the ability to sense the position and movement of joints, muscles, and tendons, plays a critical role in maintaining joint stability. Proprioceptive exercises are widely used among athletes to enhance performance and reduce injury risk. Stretching exercises, particularly static and dynamic techniques, are commonly integrated into warm-up routines to improve flexibility, joint range of motion, and neuromuscular function. However, direct comparisons of the acute effects of static stretching, dynamic stretching, and proprioceptive exercises remain limited.

In this study, healthy male soccer players aged 14-19 years, with at least five years of competitive experience, no knee pain in the past two months, and no history of knee surgery, will be included. Participants will be randomly assigned (block randomization) into three groups:

Static Stretching Group - A controlled-position protocol targeting the quadriceps, hamstrings, plantar flexors, and dorsiflexors, with specific hold durations.

Dynamic Stretching Group - A repetitive movement protocol for the same muscle groups, with gradual speed increases.

Proprioceptive Exercise Group - A 10-exercise proprioceptive training program performed on a BOSU ball, focusing on lower-limb awareness, postural control, and dynamic balance.

All groups will perform a standardized 10-minute warm-up on a cycle ergometer before their respective protocols.

Assessments will be conducted before and immediately after the intervention:

Knee joint position sense (proprioception) - measured with an ISOMED 2000 isokinetic dynamometer

Muscle strength - isokinetic testing of knee flexors and extensors using the isokinetic device

Static balance - Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) test

Dynamic balance - Y-Balance Test

Explosive power - Sargent Vertical Jump Test

The primary hypothesis is that proprioceptive exercises will produce greater acute improvements in proprioception, balance, and explosive power, while dynamic stretching may yield higher acute gains in muscle strength. Findings from this study are expected to inform evidence-based warm-up and training strategies for young soccer players.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 48
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Konya, Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Tümosan Konyaspor Facilities

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Playing football for at least 5 years.
• Not experiencing knee pain for the last 2 months.
• No history of knee surgery.
• Practicing for 90 minutes at least 5 days a week.
• Volunteering to participate in the study.
• Being between 14 and 19 years old.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having experienced knee pain for the last two months.
• Having had knee surgery.
• Not willing to participate.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Proprioception group; The group that received proprioception exercises	Other: Proprioceptive Exercise Group; Proprioceptive Exercise Program; Other Names: PG
Experimental: Dynamic tension group; The group that received dynamic stretching exercises	Other: Dynamic Stretching Exercise Group; Our exercise group where we applied the dynamic stretching protocol; Other Names: DG
Experimental: Static tension group; The group that received static stretching exercises	Other: Static Stretching Exercise Group; Our exercise group where we applied the static stretching protocol; Other Names: SG

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Knee Joint Position Sense Error (degrees)	Angular joint position matching error (degrees) measured using the ISOMED 2000 isokinetic dynamometer with passive reproduction of target angles.	Baseline and 1 day
Peak Torque during Knee Extension (Nm)	Peak torque (Nm) during knee extension assessed using the ISOMED 2000 isokinetic dynamometer. Testing was performed in concentric mode at 60 deg/s.	Baseline and 1 day

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Peak Torque during Knee Flexion (Nm)	Peak torque (Nm) during knee flexion assessed using the ISOMED 2000 isokinetic dynamometer. Testing was performed in concentric mode at 60 deg/s.	Baseline and 1 day
Total Work during Knee Extension (J)	Total work (J) produced during knee extension assessed using the ISOMED 2000 isokinetic dynamometer. Testing was performed in concentric mode at 60 deg/s.	Baseline and 1 day
Total Work during Knee Flexion (J)	Total work (J) produced during knee flexion assessed using the ISOMED 2000 isokinetic dynamometer. Testing was performed in concentric mode at 60 deg/s.	Baseline and 1 day
Average Work during Knee Extension (J)	Average work (J) during knee extension assessed using the ISOMED 2000 isokinetic dynamometer. Testing was performed in concentric mode at 60 deg/s.	Baseline and 1 day
Average Work during Knee Flexion (J)	Average work (J) during knee flexion assessed using the ISOMED 2000 isokinetic dynamometer. Testing was performed in concentric mode at 60 deg/s.	Baseline and 1 day
Maximum Work during Knee Extension (J)	Maximum work (J) during knee extension assessed using the ISOMED 2000 isokinetic dynamometer. Testing was performed in concentric mode at 60 deg/s.	Baseline and 1 day
Maximum Work during Knee Flexion (J)	Maximum work (J) during knee flexion assessed using the ISOMED 2000 isokinetic dynamometer. Testing was performed in concentric mode at 60 deg/s.	Baseline and 1 day
Average Power during Knee Extension (W)	Average power (W) during knee extension assessed using the ISOMED 2000 isokinetic dynamometer. Testing was performed in concentric mode at 60 deg/s.	Baseline and 1 day
Average Power during Knee Flexion (W)	verage power (W) during knee flexion assessed using the ISOMED 2000 isokinetic dynamometer. Testing was performed in concentric mode at 60 deg/s.	Baseline and 1 day
Knee Joint Angle at Peak Torque during Extension (degrees)	The knee joint angle (degrees) at which peak torque occurs during knee extension, assessed using the ISOMED 2000 isokinetic dynamometer. Testing was performed in concentric mode at 60 deg/s.	Baseline and 1 day
Knee Joint Angle at Peak Torque during Flexion (degrees)	The knee joint angle (degrees) at which peak torque occurs during knee flexion, assessed using the ISOMED 2000 isokinetic dynamometer. Testing was performed in concentric mode at 60 deg/s.	Baseline and 1 day
Y Balance Test Composite Score (percent)	Dynamic balance performance evaluated using the normalized composite reach score from the Y Balance Test (percent).	Baseline and 1 day
BESS Total Error Score (points)	Static balance performance measured using the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS); higher scores indicate worse balance.	Baseline and 1 day
Vertical Jump Height (cm) - Sargent Test	Explosive lower-limb power measured using the Sargent Vertical Jump Test (cm).	Baseline and 1 day

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Konya Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi
• Investigators: Study Director: Neslihan ALTUNTAŞ YILMAZ E Dr. Öğr. Üyesi, Doctor, Necmettin Erbakan University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Stehouwer CD. [Hormonal supplements for postmenopausal women: no evidence of protection against cardiovascular disease]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2001 Jan 13;145(2):61-4. Dutch.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 8, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 12, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): August 13, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 16, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 20, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): January 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 6, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 20, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Balance; Proprioception; Static stretching; Dynamic stretching; Explosive Power
• Other Study ID Numbers: 22817

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