Clinical Research Directory

Evaluation of Injury Risk Factors and Effects of Individualized Exercise Program in Basketball and Volleyball Athletes

This study aims to identify injury risk factors using a clinical/functional test battery in university basketball and volleyball athletes, to develop individualized exercise prescriptions for athletes scoring below established cut-off values on each test, and to evaluate the effects of an 8-week intervention program on test parameters. As a secondary aim, all participants will be monitored prospectively over a 6-month season to assess the incidence of injuries and health problems, and to evaluate the contribution of the individualized program to injury-related health outcomes. The study consists of four phases: (1) baseline cross-sectional assessment (T0), (2) 8-week individualized exercise intervention for athletes below cut-off thresholds, (3) post-intervention reassessment (T1), and (4) 6-month prospective injury surveillance (T2).

Injury Risk Factors in Volleyball Players

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between injury risk and pain, fatigue, muscle strength, balance and quality of life in volleyball players. In this context, it will be investigated how the pain and fatigue levels experienced by volleyball players interact with muscle strength and balance and how these factors increase the risk of injury.

"Recovery Techniques on Pain, Force and Muscle Oxygenation in Athletes: A Crossover Trial"

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the impact of various passive post-exercise recovery techniques on professional athletes. The main questions it aims to answer are: Do passive recovery modalities significantly improve muscle oxygenation and tissue temperature immediately following high-intensity effort? Which specific technique is most effective in reducing perceived pain, measured by the pressure pain threshold, and restoring muscle strength? Researchers will compare six different therapeutic interventions-Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive therapy, manual massage, intermittent negative pressure therapy, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, percussion therapy, and pneumatic pressotherapy-to determine which provides a superior immediate physiological and functional recovery effect. Participants will: Perform a high-intensity physical effort designed to induce peripheral fatigue. Be randomly assigned to receive one of the six recovery protocols. Undergo objective measurements immediately after the intervention, including near-infrared spectroscopy to assess muscle oxygen saturation, tissue thermography, algometry, and dynamometry.

Life After Sport: Prior Injury and Sedentary Behavior as Mechanisms of Later Poor Health

Competitive sport increases risk for musculoskeletal injury (e.g., traumatic knee injury) and may position former athletes for early onset of chronic diseases, chronic pain, poor health-related quality of life, and disability. Quantifying function in former athletes with and without a prior injury and non-athlete controls is critical to understanding long-term health trajectories in athletes and informing potential interventional studies. One modifiable factor that may be associated with long-term health in athletes is physical activity patterns. The purpose of this study is to evaluate strength, function, physical activity, dietary patterns, and cardiometabolic health among current and former competitive athletes and in nonathlete controls to evaluate the impact of prior knee injury and sedentary behavior as two potential determinants of later poor health and reduced function.

Association Between Weekly Strength Training Load and Perceived Physical Performance in Non-Professional Soccer Players

Background. Strength training is a key component of physical performance in soccer. However, in non-professional players, evidence regarding the relationship between weekly strength training load and perceived physical performance remains limited, particularly when considering factors such as fatigue, pain, and motivation. Objective. To analyze the association between self-reported weekly strength training load and perceived physical performance in non-professional soccer players, and to examine the influence of perceived fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and exercise motivation on this relationship. Methods. An observational, analytical, cross-sectional study conducted using a structured, self-administered online questionnaire. The dependent variable will be perceived physical performance, assessed using the Perceived Performance in Sports Questionnaire. Independent variables will include weekly strength training load, measured using the session Rating of Perceived Exertion (sRPE), perceived fatigue assessed with the Fatigue Severity Scale, and motivation toward training and sport participation assessed with the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2. Adjustment variables will include age, sex, playing position, competitive level, sporting experience, mean match playing time (minutes per match), body mass index, and overall weekly training load. Descriptive analyses and multivariable regression models will be performed. Expected results. To identify the relationship between weekly strength training load and perceived physical performance, and to determine the physical and psychosocial factors associated with lower self-perceived performance in non-professional soccer players.

Identification of Neuromusculoskeletal Variables Associated With Injury Risk and Performance in High School Athletes.

The purpose of this study is to complete a neuromuscular performance assessment of high school athletes who are participating in school based pre-season strength and performance training program. The performance assessment will screen for existing muscle imbalances and strength deficits known to increase risk for sports injury, and provide a baseline performance measurement. Athletes will be measured before the start of the program and then again at the end of the pre-season training period to measure changes in motor coordination, muscle strength, and performance and injury risk category. Internal and external training load will be measured weekly during the training program to track intensity of the training program. In addition to the pre and post measurements, sports injury occurrence and time away from sports participation will be tracked throughout the sport season/school year to evaluate training program outcomes and accuracy of risk assessment.

Adductor Endurance Test: Validity and Reliability

Groin and hip injuries are common in team sports-especially soccer, rugby, and ice hockey-and frequently affect male and young athletes. About 14% of all sports injuries involve the groin and hip region, with most related to the adductor muscles. These injuries often increase during congested match periods and may result in athletes missing 1 to 6.9 weeks of training or competition, extending up to 14 weeks when surgery is required. Weakness in the adductor muscles is a key risk factor for groin injuries, and current assessments primarily measure maximal strength using tools such as squeeze tests, sphygmomanometers, or dynamometers. However, muscle endurance-critical because many injuries occur under fatigue-has not been adequately studied, and no validated endurance tests for the hip adductors exist. This study aims to evaluate the validity and reliability of a newly developed hip adductor endurance test for monitoring endurance strength in professional soccer players.

Rise With Resilience

The objective of this study is to investigate differences in postoperative pain, physical health, and mental health outcomes between participants receiving evidence-based mindfulness training and those who do not. Over 200,000 injuries are estimated to occur among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes annually. For many, these injuries can be season-ending, exacerbating physical, mental, and social well-being. Student-athletes face distinctive challenges compared to traditional students, such as balancing academic and athletic demands, pressures to perform well on and off the field, and the physical demands of competition, all of which can lead to worse mental and emotional outcomes if not properly managed. Injuries heighten stress levels among athletes, remove them from competition, and force students to integrate treatment regimens into already packed academic schedules.

Correlation Between Psychological Readiness, Knee Function, and Isokinetic Performance After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) Using Peroneus Longus Tendon Graft (PL-ACL-2025)

This clinical trial aims to investigate the correlation between psychological readiness, knee function, and isokinetic performance after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) using the Peroneus Longus tendon graft (PLT). ACL injuries are common among athletes, and the standard treatment is ACL reconstruction surgery (ACLR). However, the success of the surgery does not solely depend on physical recovery but also on the psychological readiness of athletes to return to their sport. This study focuses on athletes who have undergone ACLR using the Peroneus Longus tendon (PLT). The primary objective is to compare psychological readiness, self-reported knee function (IKDC score), isokinetic performance (quadriceps and hamstring strength), and muscle strength ratios between athletes who meet return-to-sport (RTS) criteria and those who do not. Psychological readiness will be assessed using the ACL-Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI) scale, while knee function will be evaluated using the IKDC subjective score. Isokinetic testing will assess quadriceps and hamstring strength at various angular velocities. This study aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing an athlete's ability to return to sport after ACLR, combining both physical and psychological aspects. The results will help optimize rehabilitation strategies by offering a multidimensional approach, considering both physical and psychological factors, to improve recovery protocols for ACL-injured athletes.

Acute Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Load on Diaphragmatic Recovery in Athletes

This randomized controlled trial investigates the acute effects of inspiratory muscle warm-up and fatigue on diaphragmatic function in professional basketball players. Using ultrasound imaging and maximal inspiratory pressure (PIM) assessment, the study evaluates changes in diaphragmatic thickness and respiratory strength before and after specific inspiratory muscle loading protocols. Findings aim to clarify the short-term impact of these interventions on diaphragmatic recovery capacity, with potential implications for respiratory training, performance enhancement, and injury prevention strategies in elite athletic populations.

Validity of an Upper Extremity Physical Performance Test Battery in Healthy Athletes

This project comprises two studies; a cross-sectional study and a prospective study. 1. The cross-sectional study aims to develop and validate a new sport-specific test battery (PROMs, analytical and physical performance tests) in healthy tennis players and swimmers.The construct validity of this upper extremity test battery will be examined through two different methods. 1. Firstly, the performance on the test battery will be correlated to sport performance (sprint time at 100m freestyle in swimming and serve speed/accuracy in tennis) 2. Secondly, the correlation between test battery performance and upper limb/trunk kinematics in a tennis serve (measured via inertial measurement units (IMUs)) will be examined. 2. In the prospective study, the predictive validity of the test battery will be evaluated. Healthy swimmers and tennis players will be tested at baseline using the same test battery as mentioned above. The athletes will be followed for one year and new injuries will be recorded via a weekly questionnaire. Performance on the test battery will be associated with the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries.

Respiration and Balance in Adolescent Volleyball Players

A volleyball player with high respiratory muscle endurance can perform at a high level of efficiency during competitions without experiencing fatigue. However, no study has been found in the literature examining respiratory muscle strength, respiratory muscle endurance, cough strength and balance parameters in adolescent volleyball players which was therefore aimed to investigate the potential relationship between these parameters in this study.

Comparison of Autologous Quadriceps and Hamstring Tendon Grafts in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

With the recent technological advancements, the use of the quadriceps tendon with an all-inside technique has come to the forefront, and large-scale research has focused especially on quadriceps tendon grafts. Clinical study results have reported that the outcomes are similar to those of patellar tendon grafts and either equivalent or superior to hamstring tendon grafts. The aim of this study is the prospective comparison of the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with autologous hamstring and quadriceps tendon grafts.

Reliability and Validity of the Athlete Fear Avoidance Questionnaire in Turkish

High levels of fear avoidance can lead to chronic pain and disability and can predict rehabilitation time in the sports-related injury population. Therefore, taking fear avoidance into account may be useful in creating the most appropriate and effective rehabilitation plan, thus shortening the time to return to play. The aim of our study is to verify the validity and reliability of the Athlete Fear Avoidance Questionnaire (AFAQ) in Turkish.

Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death in UN Athletes

The detection of sudden cardiac death risk in athletes is a topic of great relevance in the field of sports physiotherapy and physical activity. High-performance sports practice involves anatomical and physiological changes that can modify the mechanical and electrical properties of the heart, increasing the risk of potentially fatal cardiac events. Therefore, it is essential to implement early detection strategies to identify at-risk athletes and prevent tragedies during sports practice. Methodology: This study focuses on the prevalence of sudden cardiac death risk, using a 12-lead electrocardiogram as the primary detection tool. This examination will allow for the evaluation of the heart's electrical activity and the detection of potential anomalies that could predispose athletes to adverse cardiac events during sports practice. In addition to the electrocardiogram, cardiovascular screening questionnaires will be administered to collect information on personal and family health histories, as well as other relevant risk factors. In conjunction with the project's researchers, the sports medical team of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia will be responsible for conducting the evaluations, ensuring the precision and reliability of the obtained results. A detailed analysis of the collected data will be performed using statistical tools to identify possible correlations between the evaluated risk factors and the presence of sudden cardiac death risk in athletes. Logistic regression models will be employed to determine the strength of association between the studied variables and cardiovascular risk in this specific population. Expected Results: It is anticipated that implementing pre-participation evaluations, including the electrocardiogram and cardiovascular screening questionnaires, will enable the identification of athletes at higher risk of sudden cardiac death. These results will allow for the establishment of individualized risk profiles and the design of personalized prevention strategies for each athlete. Additionally, it is expected that the findings of this study will contribute to the development of early detection protocols for sudden cardiac death risk in athletes, which can be effectively implemented in sports settings. The information generated from this study will provide a solid foundation for clinical decision-making and the implementation of preventive measures to benefit the health and well-being of high-performance athletes.

Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture - Choice of Treatment Based on Ultrasound Findings

Patients with acute achilles tendon rupture will go through an acute ultrasound. Based on the distance between the ends of the tendon the investigators will decide if the patient is going to be treated with or without surgery.