Assessment of Weight-bearing Ankle Range of Motion Using the Ankle Test and Lower Body Test and Its Relationship With Ligamentous Hyperlaxity in Child Basketball Players Aged 8 to 15 Years

This research aims to complement existing podiatric studies by providing information on the relationship between ligamentous hyperlaxity, a benign condition more frequently found in the pediatric population, and ankle range of motion in child basketball players aged 8-15. Furthermore, this hyperlaxity will allow us to correlate it with the most frequent type of injury experienced by the participants and assess whether future research could develop a prevention plan for this population and extrapolate it to more professional categories.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Ligamentous Hypermobility of the Toe; Children Basketball Players

Detailed Description

Observational, cross-sectional, analytical (correlational and comparative) study: Measurements are taken at a single point in time. Groups defined by exposure (hypermobile vs. non-hypermobile) are compared. Associations between variables (hypermobility, ankle dorsiflexion, previous injuries) are analyzed.

The study consists of 3 clinical tests that will be performed only once on the same day. First, hypermobility will be assessed in 5 subjects using the validated Beighton scale. This simple scale is used by pediatricians to assess generalized hypermobility. It consists of 5 tests: passive maximum elbow extension, passive maximum knee extension, passive dorsiflexion of the metatarsophalangeal joint, forward trunk flexion with knees straight while trying to place palms on the floor, and passive thumb apposition on the forearm while the shoulder is flexed to 90 degrees and the elbow is kept extended with the hand pronated. A goniometer will be used in the tests. Secondly, the Ankle Test with leg movement will be performed, a specific test of ankle dorsiflexion under bipedal weight-bearing. The test consists of flexing the knee to touch the leg movement marker set at a distance of 10 cm, thus bringing the ankle forward (anterior tibial displacement). In this way, we will assess the maximum distance reached without lifting the heel, translating these measurements in centimeters as the ankle dorsiflexion range. Once this position is reached, we will use an inclinometer (Easy Angle), placing it 15 cm from the tibial tuberosity and obtaining the same parameter, but in degrees. Finally, the ankle range of motion under single-leg weight-bearing will be assessed with the Lower Body Test using the Octobalance. The test consists of moving the foot as far away as possible from an object positioned 30 cm in front, behind, and to the left side (lines along which we will assess the range of motion). In that maximum position, we will interpret, in centimeters and in degrees using inclinometry, the range of motion of the ankle under load.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 38

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Carlos Sales Castellanos, Podología y Fisioterapia; Phone Number: +34664833475; Email: carlos.sales@ucv.es
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Benjamín Cuenca Valero, Doctor en Podología; Phone Number: +34636695885; Email: benjamin.cuenca@ucv.es

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Valencia
    • Valencia, Valencia, Spain, 46001
      • Recruiting
      • Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud - Universidad Católica de Valencia
      • Contact: Benjamín Cuenca Valero; Phone Number: +34636695885; Email: benjamin.cuenca@ucv.es
      • Sub-Investigator: Benjamín Cuenca Valero
      • Contact: Carlos Sales Castellanos; Phone Number: +34664833475; Email: carlos.sales@ucv.es
      • Principal Investigator: Carllos Sales Castellanos, Podología y Fisioterapia

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will consist of male basketball players from the Puerto de Sagunto Basketball Club.

The subjects who will participate in the study will be those who volunteer and meet the established selection criteria.

The sample will include basketball players from the following age categories: U12 (8-10 years), U14 (10-12 years), and U16 (13-15 years).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects within the age range specified in the study.
• Signed and fully completed parental consent form.
• Participation in basketball as a sport twice a week, not including school physical education, or a total of 3 hours per week.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects with injuries or any musculoskeletal impairment relevant to the measurement of the parameters to be evaluated.
• Any temporary illness that prevents the participant from being in full physical condition.
• Disorders related to loss of balance due to vestibular, cognitive, or cerebellar causes.
• Performance of a warm-up outside of the established protocol.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Hypermobile group (H+); Children playing basketball with ligamentous hyperlaxity
Non-hypermobile group (H-); Children who play basketball and do not suffer from ligamentous hyperlaxity

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
"Ankle Test" with Leg Motion® (Check Your Motion®, Albacete, Spain)	Validated to numerically quantify ankle dorsiflexion, it provides very low levels of interobserver bias (ICC values ranged from 0.96 to 0.98)	Baseline
Easy Angle digital inclinometer	It was used to obtain data on the inclination of the tibia relative to the ground, measured from the tibial tuberosity or 15 cm below it. It was also used to complete the Beighton scale in the ranges of finger, elbow, and knee hyperextension because it can function as a simple goniometer.	Baseline
"Lower Body Test" at Octobalance (Check Your Motion®, Albacete, Spain)	Considered innovative for the information it provides to prevent injuries, this patented system allows us to see limb imbalances, joint restrictions such as those in the ankle, and evaluate the quality of movement during dynamic balance.	Baseline
Beighton Scale	The most widely used tool for measuring generalized hypermobility in the healthcare field. Parameters used in this population have been measured using units from 0 to 9.	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Benjamín Cuenca Valero
• Investigators: Study Director: Benjamín Cuenca Valero, Doctor en Podología, C/ Quevedo, 2, 46001 Ciutat Vella, Valencia - Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud - Universidad Católica de Valencia; Principal Investigator: Carlos Sales Castellanos, Podología y Fisioterapia, C/ Quevedo, 2, 46001 Ciutat Vella, Valencia - Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud - Universidad Católica de Valencia

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 9, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 14, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 13, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 15, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 15, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 13, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: ankle; dynamic balance; hypermobility; range of movement; movement quality; dorsiflexion; octobalance; stargazing test
• Other Study ID Numbers: UCV/2019-2020/063

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: When they formally request it
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Once the study is completed and indefinitely
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Requesting it from the IP formally
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

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