Design and Validation of a Personalized Preventive System for Adolescents Based on Biological Maturity, Body Composition, and Musculoskeletal Function. (PREVEN-KID)

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a personalized preventive physiotherapy and exercise program based on biological maturation status in adolescents aged 14 to 15 years. During adolescence, rapid growth and differences in biological maturation can increase the risk of musculoskeletal imbalances, pain, and injuries, especially in physically active youth. However, most preventive programs are designed according to chronological age rather than biological development.

Participants will be assessed using non-invasive methods to determine biological maturation, body composition, and musculoskeletal function, including strength, balance, mobility, and postural control. Based on these assessments, participants in the intervention group will receive a 12-week individualized preventive physiotherapy program adapted to their maturation stage, while the control group will continue with their usual school or sports activities without structured intervention.

The study will compare changes in musculoskeletal function, body composition, pain perception, and lifestyle-related variables between baseline and post-intervention assessments. The results are expected to provide evidence for a maturation-based preventive approach that can be applied in clinical, school, and sports settings to reduce injury risk and improve musculoskeletal health in adolescents.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Injury Prevention; Musculoskeletal Health; Adolescent Growth and Development
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Personalized Preventive Physiotherapy and Exercise Program

Detailed Description

Adolescence is a critical period of physical development characterized by rapid growth and significant interindividual variability in biological maturation. These changes can temporarily affect coordination, strength, and musculoskeletal balance, increasing the risk of pain, functional limitations, and sports-related injuries. Traditional preventive and training programs are commonly based on chronological age, which may not adequately reflect an adolescent's true biological development.

This study is a prospective, longitudinal, interventional study with a pre-post design and a non-randomized control group. A total of approximately 120 adolescents aged 14 to 15 years will be recruited from educational and sports institutions. Participants will be allocated to either an intervention group or a control group.

At baseline, all participants will undergo a comprehensive non-invasive assessment including anthropometry, estimation of biological maturation using validated predictive equations for peak height velocity, body composition analysis, and musculoskeletal function tests assessing strength, balance, mobility, and core stability. Subjective measures such as pain perception, sleep quality, physical activity level, and general well-being will also be collected using validated questionnaires.

Participants in the intervention group will complete a 12-week personalized preventive physiotherapy and exercise program, consisting of two supervised sessions per week. The program will be tailored to each participant's maturation status and functional profile, focusing on neuromuscular control, mobility, strength development, and postural stability. Periodic reassessments will allow for individualized progression and adjustment of the intervention. The control group will continue with their usual routines without receiving a structured preventive program.

Post-intervention assessments will replicate baseline measurements to evaluate changes over time. The primary outcomes will include changes in musculoskeletal function parameters, while secondary outcomes will assess body composition, pain perception, lifestyle variables, and adherence to the intervention.

The findings of this study aim to support the use of biologically informed preventive strategies in adolescents and to contribute to the development of scalable, evidence-based programs for clinical, educational, and sports environments.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 120
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Elche
    • Alicante, Elche, Spain, 03202
      • European Institute Of Exercise and Health

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adolescents aged 14 to 15 years at the time of enrollment.
• Male and female participants.
• Apparently healthy adolescents without diagnosed chronic medical conditions.
• Participation in regular school physical education and/or organized sports activities.
• Ability to participate in moderate physical activity as determined by a pre-participation screening.
• Written informed consent obtained from parents or legal guardians, and assent from the participant.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of acute or chronic musculoskeletal injury that limits participation in physical activity at the time of enrollment.
• History of musculoskeletal surgery within the previous 12 months.
• Diagnosed neurological, cardiovascular, metabolic, or systemic disease that contraindicates physical exercise.
• Current participation in another structured exercise or intervention study.
• Use of medication that may significantly affect musculoskeletal function or physical performance.
• Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, could compromise participant safety or adherence to the protocol.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Personalized Preventive Physiotherapy Program; Participants in this arm will receive a personalized preventive physiotherapy and exercise program tailored to their biological maturation status and functional profile. The intervention will last 12 weeks and will include two supervised sessions per week focusing on neuromuscular control, strength development, mobility, balance, and postural stability. Periodic reassessments will allow individualized progression and adjustment of the program throughout the intervention period.	Behavioral: Personalized Preventive Physiotherapy and Exercise Program; This intervention consists of a personalized preventive physiotherapy and exercise program designed according to each participant's biological maturation status and functional assessment. The program lasts 12 weeks and includes two supervised sessions per week. Sessions focus on neuromuscular control, strength development, mobility, balance, core stability, and postural control. The intervention is individualized based on baseline and periodic reassessments, allowing progression and adjustment throughout the program. All sessions are supervised by qualified professionals.
No Intervention: Usual Activity Control Group; Participants in this arm will continue with their usual school and/or sports activities without receiving a structured preventive physiotherapy or exercise program. They will undergo the same baseline and post-intervention assessments as the intervention group for comparison purposes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Lower-limb Strength (Isometric)	Change in lower-limb isometric strength assessed using digital dynamometry during standardized testing procedures.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Postural Balance	Change in postural balance assessed using instrumented balance testing (e.g., force platform and inertial sensors) during standardized static and dynamic tasks.	Baseline and 12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Mobility / Range of Motion	Change in joint mobility assessed as active range of motion using motion sensors or standardized mobility tests.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Postural Control	Change in postural control parameters derived from instrumented postural assessment (e.g., center of pressure metrics and/or inertial sensor outputs) during standardized tasks.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Core Stability / Core Control	Change in core stability assessed using a standardized core control test protocol (e.g., ICAROS-based assessment).	Baseline and 12 weeks
Vertical Jump Performance	Change in vertical jump performance assessed using squat jump and/or countermovement jump measured with a load cell or force platform.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Fat Mass	Change in fat mass assessed using multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis and/or anthropometric assessment, following standardized procedures.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Skeletal Muscle Mass	Change in skeletal muscle mass and/or fat-free mass assessed using multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis, following standardized procedures.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Phase Angle	Change in phase angle derived from multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Maturity Offset	Change in maturity offset estimated using validated anthropometric equations.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Peak Height Velocity (PHV) Status	Change in estimated PHV status (pre-, circa-, post-PHV) derived from validated predictive equations.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity	Change in self-reported musculoskeletal pain intensity assessed using a standardized pain rating scale.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Physical Activity Level (PAQ-A)	Change in physical activity level assessed using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A).	Baseline and 12 weeks
Sleep Quality	Change in self-reported sleep quality assessed using a standardized questionnaire.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Intervention Adherence	Adherence measured as the percentage of completed supervised sessions out of the total prescribed sessions during the 12-week intervention.	Baseline and 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Alicante

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 26, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 26, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 4, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 21, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 20, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Adolescents; Physiotherapy; Injury prevention; Youth athletes; Biological maturation; Physical development; Peak height velocity; Musculoskeletal function; Preventive exercise
• Other Study ID Numbers: UA-2025-12-13; INNTA3/2025/8 (Other Identifier: Valencian Agency for Innovation)

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