Influence of Abdominal Muscle Function on Knee Stability for Injury Prevention

March 25, 2026 updated by: Marina Castel Sánchez, European University of Madrid

Investigation of Core Neuromuscular Performance as a Determinant of Knee Stability and Injury Prevention in Young Female Athletes Using Vicon 3D Motion Capture and Functional Performance Tests

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether an 8-week core stabilization training program can improve abdominal strength and knee stability in physically active women aged 18 to 35. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does core stabilization training improve abdominal endurance as measured by the Prone Bridge Test? Does this training enhance knee stability as measured by the Lateral Squat Down, Y-Balance Test, and Drop Vertical Jump?

Researchers will compare participants' results before and after the intervention to see whether the training program leads to measurable improvements in strength and stability.

Participants will:

Complete baseline testing of abdominal strength and knee stability using standardized assessments (Prone Bridge Test, Lateral Squat Down, Y-Balance Test, Drop Vertical Jump) recorded with a Vicon motion-capture system.

Perform an 8-week supervised core stabilization program that includes front plank, side plank, and Nordic hamstring exercises following a structured progression.

Complete the same performance tests again after the intervention.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

35

Phase

  • Not Applicable

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

  • Spain
    • Madrid
      • Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain, 28670

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female participants
  • Age between 18 and 35 years
  • Performing regular physical activity ≥ 6 hours per week.
  • Able to complete all assessment procedures (Prone Bridge Test, Lateral Squat Down, Y-Balance Test, Drop Vertical Jump).
  • Willing to comply with the 8-week study procedures (training program or control condition)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current musculoskeletal injury affecting the lower limbs, trunk, or spine
  • History of surgery in the lower limbs or spine in the past 12 months
  • Known neurological, cardiovascular, or systemic conditions that may interfere with physical testing
  • Pregnancy
  • Participation in any structured core-strengthening program during the study period
  • Inability to abstain from core training if assigned to the control group

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

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Core Stabilization Training Program
Participants assigned to the Experimental Group will complete an 8-week supervised core stabilization training program. The program is performed as a pre-training activation routine and follows the structure described in Başandaç et al. (2025). Exercises include progressive front plank, side plank, and Nordic hamstring training. All sessions are supervised to ensure proper technique and adherence.
Behavioral: Core Stabilization Training Program

Participants will perform the following exercises for 8 weeks:

Front plank: 2 × 30 seconds (with progression including alternating leg lifts) Side plank: 2 × 30 seconds per side (with progression including hip abduction) Nordic hamstring exercise: 2 sets of 3-15 repetitions depending on progression Rest between sets: 30-60 seconds based on perceived exertion. All exercises are performed under supervision prior to regular training sessions.
No Intervention: Control Group
Participants will maintain their usual activity level and will not perform any core stabilization exercises during the 8-week study period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in abdominal endurance (Prone Bridge Test)
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks (post-intervention)
Difference from baseline in time (seconds) holding a standardized prone bridge position with neutral alignment, up to voluntary termination or failure to maintain position after three warnings. Higher values indicate greater abdominal endurance.
Baseline and 8 weeks (post-intervention)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in dynamic balance (Y-Balance Test composite score)
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks (post-intervention)
Difference from baseline in the Y-Balance Test composite reach score, expressed as a percentage of limb length and averaged across the three directions. Standard Y-Balance protocol with three trials per direction per limb in a fixed order; best performance used for analysis, recorded with concurrent motion capture.
Baseline and 8 weeks (post-intervention)
Change in knee control during Lateral Squat Down (knee valgus angle)
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks (post-intervention)

Difference from baseline in peak frontal-plane knee valgus angle (degrees) of the test limb during the Lateral Squat Down task. Lower valgus angles indicate better knee stability.

How it will be assessed: 3D kinematic analysis using a Vicon motion capture system tracking reflective markers on key anatomical landmarks; standardized step height (20 cm) and five repetitions recorded.
Baseline and 8 weeks (post-intervention)
Change in landing mechanics (Drop Vertical Jump knee valgus angle)
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks (post-intervention)

Difference from baseline in peak knee valgus angle (degrees) during landing from a 31-cm box immediately followed by a maximal vertical jump. Lower valgus angles indicate improved neuromuscular control.

How it will be assessed: 3D motion analysis with Vicon during standardized Drop Vertical Jump (feet 35 cm apart on take-off)
Baseline and 8 weeks (post-intervention)
Adherence to the core training program
Time Frame: At the end 8-week intervention

Percentage of prescribed sessions completed. Higher values indicate better adherence.

Measure Type and Unit: Proportion (%) How it will be assessed: Supervised session logs; adherence calculated as completed/expected sessions × 100%.
At the end 8-week intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

European University of Madrid

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)

March 6, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 19, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 25, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 30, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 30, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 25, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • UEM-2026-COREKNEE-01

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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