Postural Stability and Trunk Strength in Wrestlers

April 29, 2026 updated by: Berivan Beril Kılıç, Biruni University

Isokinetic Trunk Muscle Strength and Postural Stability in Elite Wrestlers: A Comparative Analysis With a Control Group

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the relationship between sagittal plane isokinetic trunk strength and dynamic postural stability in elite wrestlers compared to healthy sedentary volunteers (males, aged 18-30).

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Is there a significant correlation between maximal concentric isokinetic trunk torque/power values and dynamic postural stability variables in elite wrestlers? How do the agonist/antagonist (flexion/extension) ratios and core strength profiles of elite wrestlers differ from those of a sedentary control group.

Comparison Group: Researchers will compare elite wrestlers (with at least 5 years of professional experience) to a healthy sedentary control group to see if professional wrestling training leads to superior trunk muscle integration and enhanced dynamic balance control.Participants will:Complete a demographic data form and a health screening to ensure they meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria (e.g., no history of spinal surgery or acute back pain).Perform a standardized warm-up session on a cycle ergometer at 55-60 rpm.Undergo dynamic postural stability testing to measure balance control and center of gravity displacement.Perform isokinetic trunk strength testing (flexion and extension) to measure peak torque, total work, and power values relative to body weight (PT/BW).

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Sport is defined as an activity that involves the performance of high-level physical activities while simultaneously maintaining static and dynamic balance. For athletes to perform sport-specific movements effectively, they must possess a high level of physical fitness and develop various factors that determine performance. Balance is defined as the ability to maintain the body's center of gravity within the limits of support, while static balance is expressed as the ability to sustain the base of support with minimum movement. Maintaining postural balance is considered a fundamental requirement for the effective and efficient execution of many sporting activities.

The core muscles consist of 29 pairs of muscle groups that support the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex, contributing to the stabilization of the pelvis, vertebrae, and the kinetic chain. Defined as the center of the functional kinetic chain, the core region resembles a cylindrical structure formed by the paravertebral and gluteal muscles posteriorly, abdominal muscles anteriorly, the diaphragm superiorly, and the pelvic floor and hip girdle muscles inferiorly. The coordinated contraction of these muscles provides maximum stability in the proximal region, enabling optimal controlled and effective movement in the distal region. In this context, isokinetic testing of trunk flexor and extensor muscle strength is used as one of the standard measurement methods for evaluating core stability in clinical sports medicine and allows for the objective assessment of athletes' muscle strength capacity. Isokinetic measurement possesses high reliability and sensitivity and is frequently preferred in dynamic force analyses to determine the mechanical profile of trunk muscles.

Core stability is the capacity of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex to prevent instability in the spine and return to a state of equilibrium following a perturbation. According to the results of previous research and review studies, core strength, core endurance, and the lumbo-pelvic muscle control structure together constitute core stabilization. Some studies have shown that decreased strength in the core muscles increases body sway and may impair body balance, and that balance ability is associated with active arm swing, core stabilization, and trunk muscle endurance. Wrestlers require highly developed abdominal and spinal muscle strength capacities to compensate for sport-specific loads. Although it is known that wrestlers possess high absolute trunk extensor strength, the sudden explosive attacks and high balance requirements during a match make not only the strength of the trunk muscles but also the integration of this strength with postural stability critical. One study reported that extensor muscle strength for weightlifters and wrestlers was higher compared to the sedentary population, yet similar values were found between groups regarding flexor muscle strength. Despite this, there remains a significant gap in the literature regarding the interpretation of spinal isokinetic variables in relation to performance and postural stability.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

46

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Istanbul
      • Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34103
        • Biruni University

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

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study involves a convenience sample of elite male wrestlers and age-matched healthy sedentary controls. All participants are recruited from local wrestling clubs and the university community. The target population consists of individuals aged 18-30 who meet specific physical and professional athletic criteria, ensuring a comparison between high-level functional core strength and a standard sedentary baseline

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Wrestler:

  • Aged 18-35 years.
  • Minimum of 5 years of licensed athletic background and actively competing at a professional level in wrestling

Control Group:

  • Aged 18-35 years.
  • Leading a sedentary lifestyle (no regular physical activity).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any musculoskeletal injury within the last 6 months resulting in a loss of training or competition time
  • Current complaints of acute back pain.
  • History of surgical intervention or deformity in the upper extremities, lower extremities, or spine.
  • Presence of any neurological, systemic, or vestibular disorders that may impair balance and motor control.
  • Presence of active infection.
  • Presence or history of malignancy.

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
Wrestlers
The wrestlers who participated in the study had a minimum of five years of professional experience and were screened for any pre-existing musculoskeletal conditions
Other: ısokinetic trunk muscle strength
runk flexion and extension muscle strength measurements will be performed using the Cybex NORM computerized isokinetic dynamometer which is considered the gold standard for muscle strength assessment. During the measurement, participants will be positioned standing on the device; support pads will be used to stabilize the lower extremities, and stabilization belts will be fastened to fix the pelvis and minimize the involvement of the hip flexors. Strength assessment will consist of trunk flexion-extension movements involving 5 repetitions at an angular velocity of 60°/s, while the endurance test will be conducted with 15 repetitions at 90°/s. This protocol was selected based on previous studies in the literature. A 20-second rest interval will be provided between repetitions. The following parameters obtained under isokinetic conditions will be analyzed: peak torque, peak torque normalized to body weight, total work, and total work normalized to body weight.
Other: Postural Stability
Postural stability measurements will be performed using the Biodex Balance System SD (Biodex Medical Systems, Inc., Shirley, NY, USA), which is a computer-assisted balance assessment system with a multi-axial moving platform. The device objectively evaluates both static and dynamic postural stability. The postural stability assessment will involve both double-leg and single-leg measurements. During the test, all participants will be required to stand barefoot with their arms parallel to their bodies and eyes open, first on a single leg and then on both legs. At the beginning of the trial, participants will be instructed to maintain their balance throughout the test duration. The same procedure will consist of three 20-second repetitions for each extremity, with 10-second rest intervals between repetitions. The balance system will evaluate and record the Overall Stability Index (OSI), Anterior-Posterior Stability Index (APSI), and Medial-Lateral Stability Index (MLSI) for each part
Control group
Sedantary healthy people
Other: ısokinetic trunk muscle strength
runk flexion and extension muscle strength measurements will be performed using the Cybex NORM computerized isokinetic dynamometer which is considered the gold standard for muscle strength assessment. During the measurement, participants will be positioned standing on the device; support pads will be used to stabilize the lower extremities, and stabilization belts will be fastened to fix the pelvis and minimize the involvement of the hip flexors. Strength assessment will consist of trunk flexion-extension movements involving 5 repetitions at an angular velocity of 60°/s, while the endurance test will be conducted with 15 repetitions at 90°/s. This protocol was selected based on previous studies in the literature. A 20-second rest interval will be provided between repetitions. The following parameters obtained under isokinetic conditions will be analyzed: peak torque, peak torque normalized to body weight, total work, and total work normalized to body weight.
Other: Postural Stability
Postural stability measurements will be performed using the Biodex Balance System SD (Biodex Medical Systems, Inc., Shirley, NY, USA), which is a computer-assisted balance assessment system with a multi-axial moving platform. The device objectively evaluates both static and dynamic postural stability. The postural stability assessment will involve both double-leg and single-leg measurements. During the test, all participants will be required to stand barefoot with their arms parallel to their bodies and eyes open, first on a single leg and then on both legs. At the beginning of the trial, participants will be instructed to maintain their balance throughout the test duration. The same procedure will consist of three 20-second repetitions for each extremity, with 10-second rest intervals between repetitions. The balance system will evaluate and record the Overall Stability Index (OSI), Anterior-Posterior Stability Index (APSI), and Medial-Lateral Stability Index (MLSI) for each part

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Isokinetic muscle strength
Time Frame: Enrollment
Enrollment
Postural Stability
Time Frame: Enrollment
Enrollment

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Biruni 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 (Actual)

April 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 20, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

April 28, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 1, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 1, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 5, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 29, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 7

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

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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