Dynamic Q Angle and Core Endurance in Adolescent Athletes With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS-QCORE)

January 8, 2026 updated by: Burçin Uğur Tosun, Eastern Mediterranean University

Dynamic Q Angle And Core Endurance In Adolescent Athletes With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A Sex-Based Comparative Retrospective Study

This cross-sectional observational study aims to compare trunk mobility, lower extremity flexibility, and functional balance performance across different sports branches in adolescent elite male athletes. Trunk mobility will be assessed using a digital inclinometer in flexion, extension, and rotational movements; hamstring flexibility will be evaluated using the Straight Leg Raise test; and functional balance will be measured using the normalized Y-Balance Test. The study seeks to identify sport-specific biomechanical characteristics and potential indicators related to injury risk and performance adaptations in adolescent competitive athletes.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Adolescent elite athletes are exposed to sport-specific mechanical loading patterns that may lead to adaptations in trunk mobility, flexibility, and dynamic balance control. These biomechanical characteristics may differ between sports branches due to variations in postural demands, training volume, movement strategies, and neuromuscular control mechanisms. Understanding inter-sport differences may contribute to performance optimization and preventive rehabilitation approaches in youth athletics.

This study is designed as a cross-sectional, observational, and multi-group comparative investigation including elite adolescent male athletes from different sports branches. All participants will undergo standardized clinical and biomechanical assessments. Trunk mobility will be measured using a digital inclinometer in flexion, extension, and rotation at the lumbosacral and thoracolumbar regions. Hamstring flexibility will be assessed using the passive Straight Leg Raise test, and functional balance will be evaluated using the Y-Balance Test composite score normalized to limb length.

The primary objective of the study is to compare functional balance performance across sports branches. Secondary objectives include comparing trunk mobility and hamstring flexibility measures and examining potential associations among these biomechanical parameters. The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence-based insight into sport-specific musculoskeletal characteristics and may support the development of targeted screening and injury-prevention strategies for adolescent elite athletes.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

85

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 Locations

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

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Elite adolescent male athletes aged 15-17 years from different sports branches (wrestling, sprint, canoe/kayak, and taekwondo). Participants are recruited from sports performance centers and evaluated using standardized trunk mobility, flexibility, and functional balance assessments.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Male adolescent elite athletes aged 15-17 years
  2. Licensed and actively training and competing in their respective sports branch
  3. Minimum 3 years of continuous training experience
  4. Ability to complete all clinical and biomechanical assessments
  5. Written informed consent (parental consent for minors)

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Acute musculoskeletal injury within the past 3 months
  2. Chronic lower extremity or spinal pathology
  3. History of orthopedic surgery within the past 6 months
  4. Neurological, metabolic, or systemic condition affecting movement or balance
  5. Inability to comply with the testing protocol or incomplete data

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Wrestling Athletes
Elite adolescent male wrestlers. No intervention is administered; participants undergo standardized clinical and biomechanical assessments including trunk mobility (digital inclinometer), hamstring flexibility (Straight Leg Raise), and functional balance (Y-Balance Test).
Other: Observational Clinical and Biomechanical Assessment
No intervention is administered in this study. Participants only undergo standardized observational assessments, including trunk mobility measurements using a digital inclinometer, hamstring flexibility testing with the Straight Leg Raise test, and functional balance evaluation using the Y-Balance Test. No therapeutic or experimental procedures are applied.
Other Names:
  • Standardized Functional Evaluation Protocol
Sprint Athletes
Elite adolescent male sprint runners. No intervention is administered; the same standardized assessment protocol is applied, including trunk mobility, hamstring flexibility, and Y-Balance Test performance.
Other: Observational Clinical and Biomechanical Assessment
No intervention is administered in this study. Participants only undergo standardized observational assessments, including trunk mobility measurements using a digital inclinometer, hamstring flexibility testing with the Straight Leg Raise test, and functional balance evaluation using the Y-Balance Test. No therapeutic or experimental procedures are applied.
Other Names:
  • Standardized Functional Evaluation Protocol
Canoe/Kayak Athletes
Elite adolescent male canoe/kayak athletes. No intervention is administered; participants complete the same biomechanical assessment battery as the other cohorts.
Other: Observational Clinical and Biomechanical Assessment
No intervention is administered in this study. Participants only undergo standardized observational assessments, including trunk mobility measurements using a digital inclinometer, hamstring flexibility testing with the Straight Leg Raise test, and functional balance evaluation using the Y-Balance Test. No therapeutic or experimental procedures are applied.
Other Names:
  • Standardized Functional Evaluation Protocol
Taekwondo Athletes
Elite adolescent male taekwondo athletes. No intervention is administered; all assessments are performed using the standardized trunk mobility, flexibility, and functional balance testing protocol.
Other: Observational Clinical and Biomechanical Assessment
No intervention is administered in this study. Participants only undergo standardized observational assessments, including trunk mobility measurements using a digital inclinometer, hamstring flexibility testing with the Straight Leg Raise test, and functional balance evaluation using the Y-Balance Test. No therapeutic or experimental procedures are applied.
Other Names:
  • Standardized Functional Evaluation Protocol

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Y-Balance Test Composite Score (%)
Time Frame: Baseline (single assessment at study enrollment)
Dynamic functional balance performance assessed using the Y-Balance Test. Composite score is calculated from normalized anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral reach distances on the dominant limb.
Baseline (single assessment at study enrollment)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Trunk Mobility - Inclinometer Range of Motion (°)
Time Frame: Baseline (single assessment at study enrollment)
Spinal mobility measured using a digital inclinometer in flexion, extension, and rotation at the lumbosacral and thoracolumbar regions. Values are recorded in degrees on the dominant side.
Baseline (single assessment at study enrollment)
Hamstring Flexibility - Straight Leg Raise Angle (°)
Time Frame: Baseline (single assessment at study enrollment)
Passive Straight Leg Raise test performed on the dominant lower extremity using a goniometer. The maximum tolerated angle is recorded in degrees.
Baseline (single assessment at study enrollment)
Body Composition (Descriptive Variable)
Time Frame: Baseline (single assessment at study enrollment)
Body fat percentage
Baseline (single assessment at study enrollment)
Body Composition (body mass index)
Time Frame: Baseline (single assessment at study enrollment)
body mass index obtained using a multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance device (profiling purpose only; not included as a primary outcome).
Baseline (single assessment at study enrollment)

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Eastern Mediterranean University

Investigators

  • Study Chair: burcin ugur tosun, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Olympic Preparation Center, Adana, Türkiye

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)

December 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

February 20, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 26, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 8, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

January 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 8, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • TM-FLEX-BAL-2025

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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