Adolescent Elite Athletes: Trunk Mobility, Lower Extremity Flexibility, and Functional Balance Across Sports (TEF-BALANCE)

Adolescent Elite Athletes: A Comparative Biomechanical Study of Trunk Mobility, Lower Extremity Flexibility, and Functional Balance Across Sports Branches

This cross-sectional observational study compared trunk mobility, hamstring flexibility, and dynamic functional balance performance among elite male adolescent athletes aged 15-17 years from different sports branches, including wrestling, sprint athletics, canoe/kayak, and taekwondo.

All assessments were conducted during a single baseline evaluation session using standardized, non-invasive clinical measurement tools. Trunk mobility was assessed using a digital inclinometer, hamstring flexibility was evaluated with the passive Straight Leg Raise test using a goniometer, and dynamic functional balance was measured using the Y-Balance Test composite score on the dominant lower extremity.

The findings of this study provide sport-specific reference data and contribute to the identification of biomechanical characteristics related to mobility, flexibility, and balance in elite adolescent athletes across different sports disciplines.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Mobility Limitation; Lower Extremity Problem; Functional Balance
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: No intervention

Detailed Description

This study was conducted as a cross-sectional observational investigation in elite male adolescent athletes aged 15-17 years who were actively training and competing in different sports branches, including wrestling, sprint athletics, canoe/kayak, and taekwondo. The study aimed to compare trunk mobility, hamstring flexibility, and dynamic functional balance performance across different sports disciplines and to identify sport-specific biomechanical characteristics in this population.

All participants underwent a single baseline assessment at study enrollment. Trunk mobility was evaluated using a digital inclinometer to measure active spinal flexion, extension, and rotation at the lumbosacral and thoracolumbar regions. Hamstring flexibility was assessed on the dominant lower extremity using the passive Straight Leg Raise test with a clinical goniometer. Dynamic functional balance was assessed using the Y-Balance Test, and a normalized composite score was calculated based on anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral reach distances.

Demographic and training-related characteristics, including age, training history, sport branch, and dominant limb, were recorded for descriptive purposes. Body composition parameters, including body fat percentage and body mass index, were obtained for participant profiling only and were not analyzed as primary study outcomes.

All assessments were non-invasive and were performed by an experienced physiotherapist using standardized clinical protocols. The findings of this study are expected to provide sport-specific reference values, support performance evaluation, and contribute to injury risk awareness and biomechanical profiling in elite adolescent athlete populations.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 150

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Cyprus
  • Famagusta, Cyprus, 99010
    • Burcin Ugur Tosun

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of elite male adolescent athletes aged 15-17 years who are actively training and competing in different sports branches, including wrestling, sprint athletics, canoe/kayak, and taekwondo. Participants are recruited from sports performance centers and evaluated using standardized, non-invasive clinical assessments of trunk mobility, flexibility, and functional balance.

Description

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male adolescent athletes aged 15-17 years
• Licensed and actively training and competing in their respective sports branch
• Minimum of 3 years of continuous training experience
• Ability to complete all clinical and biomechanical assessments
• Written informed consent obtained from the participant and a parent or legal guardian

Exclusion Criteria:

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

4

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Wrestling Athletes Group/ Cohort; Elite male adolescent athletes competing in wrestling.	Other: No intervention; No intervention was administered. This study was observational in nature
Sprint Athletes Group/ Cohort; Elite male adolescent athletes competing in sprint athletics.	Other: No intervention; No intervention was administered. This study was observational in nature
Canoe/Kayak Athletes Group/ Cohort; Elite male adolescent athletes competing in canoe/kayak disciplines.	Other: No intervention; No intervention was administered. This study was observational in nature
Taekwondo Athletes Group/ Cohort; Elite male adolescent athletes competing in taekwondo.	Other: No intervention; No intervention was administered. This study was observational in nature

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Y-Balance Test Composite Score (%)	Dynamic functional balance performance assessed using the Y-Balance Test. The composite score is calculated from normalized anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral reach distances performed on the dominant lower extremity.	At study enrollment (single baseline assessment)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Trunk Mobility - Inclinometer Range of Motion (°)	Spinal mobility assessed using a digital inclinometer. Active trunk flexion, extension, and rotation angles are measured at the lumbosacral and thoracolumbar regions and recorded in degrees on the dominant side.	At study enrollment (single baseline assessment)
Hamstring Flexibility - Straight Leg Raise Angle (°)	Hamstring flexibility evaluated using the passive Straight Leg Raise test on the dominant lower extremity. The maximum tolerated hip flexion angle is measured in degrees using a clinical goniometer.	At study enrollment (single baseline assessment)
Body Fat Percentage (%)	Body fat percentage measured using a multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis device. This parameter is collected for descriptive and profiling purposes only.	At study enrollment (single baseline assessment)
Body Mass Index (BMI, kg/m²)	Body mass index calculated as body weight divided by height squared (kg/m²). BMI is collected for descriptive and participant profiling purposes only.	At study enrollment (single baseline assessment)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Eastern Mediterranean University
• Investigators: Study Chair: burcin ugur tosun, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Olympic Preparation Center, Adana, Türkiye

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 15, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): December 16, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 26, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 31, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 13, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 11, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: balance; lower extremity; Adolescent Athletes
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Mobility Limitation
• Other Study ID Numbers: TU-SBF-2025-10-27

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No