Clinical Trial: Effects of ACL injury prevention training with and without instruction on movement patterns during change-of-direction maneuvers in adolescent handball players (Japan)

Tokyo, March 3 -- UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) received information related to the study (UMIN000060797) titled 'Effects of ACL injury prevention training with and without instruction on movement patterns during change-of-direction maneuvers in elementary and junior high school handball players' on March 2.

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Basic Design - Parallel Randomization - Non-randomized Blinding - Open -no one is blinded Control - No treatment

Primary Sponsor: Institute - Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences

Condition: Condition - To compare the effects of ACL injury prevention training with and without coaching on risky motions during change-of-direction in adolescent handball players Classification by malignancy - Others Genomic information - NO

Objective: Narrative objectives1 - Most anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in sports occur through non-contact mechanisms during sudden deceleration, such as change-of-direction and jump-landing maneuvers. While numerous studies have demonstrated that neuromuscular training (NMT) can effectively reduce the incidence of these injuries, there is limited scientific evidence regarding the added value of specific coaching. Specifically, it remains unclear how educating athletes about ACL injury mechanisms and distinguishing between "risky" and "safe" movement patterns during NMT influences the improvement of sudden deceleration motions. For adolescent athletes, who are in a critical stage of motor skill acquisition, mastering proper deceleration techniques is essential for both their long-term athletic careers and lifelong joint health. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare the effects of ACL injury prevention training, with and without integrated coaching, on risky movement patterns during change-of-direction maneuvers in adolescent handball players. Basic objectives2 - Efficacy

Intervention: Interventions/Control_1 - We will implement lower-body neuromuscular training known to be effective in preventing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. The 9-week training program will be divided into three 3-week phases (Phase 1 to Phase 3), with the training content modified for each phase.

Phase 1 (3 weeks: 5 training sessions and 1 measurement session) In Phase 1, single-leg squats will be performed. From a single-leg standing position, the participant bends the knee over a period of 5 seconds until the thigh is parallel to the floor, holds that position for 1 second, and then stands up as quickly as possible upon a signal. This exercise is performed in 3 sets of 8 repetitions for each leg.

Phase 2 (3 weeks: 5 training sessions and 1 measurement session) Single-leg squats will also be performed in Phase 2. However, unlike in Phase 1, participants squat down at maximum speed until the thigh is parallel to the floor upon a signal and hold that position for 3 seconds. Subsequently, they stand up as quickly as possible upon another signal. This exercise is performed in 3 sets of 8 repetitions for each leg.

Phase 3 (3 weeks: 5 training sessions and 1 measurement session) In Phase 3, single-leg jump-to-landing training will be performed. From a single-leg standing position, the participant squats down as quickly as possible until the knee flexion angle reaches approximately 90 degree upon a signal and then jumps upward as high as possible. Afterward, the participant performs a single-leg landing, squats down until the thigh is parallel to the floor, and holds the position for 3 seconds on one leg. This exercise is performed in 3 sets of 8 repetitions for each leg. Interventions/Control_2 - For the "with-coaching" group (intervention group), we will provide lectures on ACL injury mechanisms, risky deceleration forms, and safe movement patterns. Furthermore, during the training period, direct instructions-such as identifying risky motions and providing corrections to ensure safe movement-will be given for individual performances. In contrast, the "without-coaching" group (control group) will not receive lectures on injury mechanisms or specific movement coaching. They will only be provided with basic instructions regarding general safety and standard forms for training exercises.

Eligibility: Age-lower limit - 11 years-old = Gender - Male Key inclusion criteria - Male athletes aged 11 to 15 years who belong to a handball school club or a handball club team, with at least six months of competitive experience in handball. Key exclusion criteria - 1) Individuals who have sustained a severe injury requiring surgery within the past six months. 2) Individuals who are unable to participate in regular exercise due to pain, illness, or other medical conditions during the study period. Target Size - 40

Recruitment Status: Recruitment status - Preinitiation Date of protocol fixation - 2026 Year 03 Month 01 Day Anticipated trial start date - 2026 Year 04 Month 01 Day Last follow-up date - 2026 Year 07 Month 31 Day

To know more, visit https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000069558

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.