Effects of a Targeted Prevention Program on Change-of-Direction Biomechanics and Performance in Elite Female Soccer Players (PREV-COD-FF)

Impact of a Targeted Prevention Program on Biomechanics and Performance During Change-of-Direction Tasks in Elite Female Soccer Players: An Interventional Study

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common in female soccer and frequently occur during change-of-direction (COD) movements without contact. Biomechanical deficits during these movements are considered important risk factors.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of a targeted injury-prevention program on biomechanical movement quality and performance during change-of-direction tasks in female soccer players.

Participants will perform a 90° cutting task during which biomechanical movement quality will be assessed using the Cutting Movement Assessment Score (CMAS), while performance will be evaluated using cutting time measured with photoelectric timing gates. Participants will also perform the 505 Agility Test to assess additional change-of-direction performance.

In addition, subjective perceptions of functional confidence and performance will be collected using Likert-scale questionnaires.

The study will assess whether a structured prevention program integrated into regular training can improve biomechanical movement patterns and change-of-direction performance.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Targeted Injury Prevention Program

Detailed Description

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries frequently occur during rapid change-of-direction (COD) movements in soccer, particularly in female players. Biomechanical deficits during these movements have been identified as important modifiable risk factors for non-contact ACL injuries.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of a structured injury-prevention program on biomechanical movement quality and performance during change-of-direction tasks in female soccer players.

Participants will complete biomechanical and performance assessments before and after a training period. Movement quality during a 90° cutting task will be evaluated using the Cutting Movement Assessment Score (CMAS). Performance will be assessed using cutting time measured with photoelectric timing gates. Participants will also perform the 505 Agility Test to evaluate additional change-of-direction performance. Subjective perceptions of functional confidence and performance will be collected using Likert-scale questionnaires.

Participants will be allocated to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will complete a structured injury-prevention program integrated into their regular soccer training sessions. The program will be performed twice per week for six weeks, with sessions lasting approximately 30 minutes. It will include exercises targeting neuromuscular control, strength, balance, trunk stability, plyometric ability, and change-of-direction technique in order to improve movement mechanics during change-of-direction tasks. The control group will continue their usual soccer training without the additional prevention program.

The study will evaluate whether the prevention program improves biomechanical movement patterns and change-of-direction performance.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 51
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Mathilde Devits, PT, PhD candidate; Phone Number: +32498200017; Email: Mathilde.Devits@Uliege.be

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Liège
    • Liège, Liège, Belgium, 4000
      • University of Liege
      • Contact: Mathilde Devits, PT- PhD candidate; Phone Number: +32498200017; Email: Mathilde.Devits@Uliege.be
      • Principal Investigator: Mathilde Devits, PT- PhD candidate

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female soccer players aged 13 to 16 years
• Female soccer players training at least 3 times per week
• Ability to provide informed consent (parental consent required for minors)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous lower-limb surgery
• Current musculoskeletal injury
• Refusal to participate or withdrawal of consent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Injury Prevention Program; Participants perform a targeted injury prevention program integrated into their regular soccer training sessions twice per week for six weeks. The program includes exercises focusing on neuromuscular control, lower-limb strength, balance, trunk stability, plyometric ability, and change-of-direction technique.	Behavioral: Targeted Injury Prevention Program; A structured injury prevention program integrated into regular soccer training sessions and performed twice per week for six weeks. The program includes exercises targeting neuromuscular control, lower-limb strength, trunk stability, balance, plyometric ability, and change-of-direction technique.
No Intervention: Usual Soccer Training; Participants continue their regular soccer training sessions without the additional injury prevention program.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
CMAS Score during a 90° Change-of-Direction Cutting Task	Biomechanical movement quality during a 90° change-of-direction cutting task assessed using the Cutting Movement Assessment Score (CMAS), reflecting the kinematic quality of the movement.	Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 6-week intervention period.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cutting Time during a 90° Change-of-Direction Cutting Task	Execution time (cutting time) during a 90° change-of-direction cutting task measured using photoelectric timing gates to assess change-of-direction performance.	aseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 6-week intervention period.
505 Agility Test Time	Execution time during the 505 Agility Test measuring change-of-direction performance, recorded using photoelectric timing gates.	Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 6-week intervention period.
Subjective Functional Confidence and Performance Perception Scores	Self-reported perceptions of functional confidence and perceived performance during change-of-direction movements assessed using Likert-scale questionnaires using a 0-10 Likert scale.	Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 6-week intervention period.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Liege
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Mathilde Devits, PT, PhD candidate, University of Liege

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): March 30, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 18, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 18, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 3, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 3, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 17, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 13, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Injury Prevention; Neuromuscular Training; Change of Direction; ACL Injury Prevention; Female soccer; Cutting Task; CMAS; 505 Agility Test
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Leg Injuries; Knee Injuries; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: PREV-COD-FF

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared due to confidentiality and privacy considerations. Data are part of a doctoral research project at the University of Liège and are only accessible to the research team.

Drug and device information, study documents

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