Muscle StrainNCT07037095
Correlation Between Gastrocnemius Muscle Strain and Functional Performance in Footballers
An observational study of Muscle Strain, run by Superior University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Footballers are highly prone to lower extremity injuries due to the intense physical demands of the sport, with calf muscle strains, particularly gastrocnemius injuries, being very common. The gastrocnemius muscle plays a critical role in movement, posture, and athletic performance. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Muscle Strain
- What is being tested?
- Ankle plantar flexion test:
- How many people
- 158 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 4 Mar 2025to 30 Sep 2025
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 40 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Study population: Footballers are highly prone to lower extremity injuries due to the intense physical demands of the sport, with calf muscle strains, particularly gastrocnemius injuries, being very common.
Who may be able to join
- Both male and female patients aged between 18 and 40 years.
- At least six months of football training.
- The study focused on players with gastrocnemius muscle injury injuries diagnosed by physical examination; palpation, Stretch Test (Passive Dorsiflexion Test), Resisted Plantarflexion Test.
- Willing to provide written informed consent and comply with study protocols.
Who cannot join
- Players with Achilles tendon injuries were excluded from the study.
- History of extrinsic trauma
- soleus or other calf injury not meeting inclusion conditions
- Inability to perform rehabilitation
- No intention to return to full sports act
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Footballers are highly prone to lower extremity injuries due to the intense physical demands of the sport, with calf muscle strains, particularly gastrocnemius injuries, being very common. The gastrocnemius muscle plays a critical role in movement, posture, and athletic performance.
Read the detailed description
This study aims to determine the correlation between the severity of gastrocnemius muscle strain and functional performance among footballers. Participants aged 18-40 years with clinically diagnosed gastrocnemius strains were assessed using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) and Hop Test. Severity was categorized through physical examination techniques like palpation, passive dorsiflexion stretch, and resisted plantarflexion tests. Data analysis will explore the relationship between strain severity and functional outcomes, providing valuable insights into rehabilitation strategies and return to play decisions for injured athletes. This study addresses a research gap by focusing specifically on footballers and correlating strain severity with sport-specific functional performance.
- Conditions
- Muscle Strain
- Being tested
- Ankle plantar flexion test:
- Medical subject headings
- Sprains and Strains
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Ankle plantar flexion test:Diagnostic test
Ankle plantarflexion is valid test used to assess for gastrocnemius muscle strain . Patient is asked to actively plantarflex the foot against resistance while examiner Observe ,this action activates the gastrocnemius muscle .The reliability for ankle plantar flexion is 0.81 to 0.99. If the patient reports pain in the region of gastrocnemius, the test is positive. If there is no pain , weakness or difficulty performing plantarflexion then suggest that test is negative.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Ankle plantar flexion test | Not described Receives: Diagnostic Test: Ankle plantar flexion test: |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS)
The Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) is a questionnaire used to assess an individual's functional limitations related to their lower extremities. It contains 20 items, each scored on a scale of 0 to 4, with higher scores indicating better function. The total score ranges from 0 to 80, with 80 representing no functional limitations
Measured: 6 Month
Hop tests
The Hop tests are used to assess lower limb function, particularly after injury, and are scored using the Limb Symmetry Index (LSI) by comparing the injured leg's performance to the uninjured leg. A score of 90% or higher on the LSI is generally considered a satisfactory level of recovery, indicating readiness to return to sports.
Measured: 6 Months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Jun 2025
- Study start4 Mar 2025
- Primary completion1 Jun 2025
- Study completion30 Sep 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Muscle StrainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Superior UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Retrospective
- Enrolment
- 158 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Superior University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Muhammad Naveed Babur, Superior University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07037095
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- DPT/Batch-Fall20/1005
- Status last verified
- Jun 2025
- First submitted
- 17 Jun 2025
- Last updated
- 25 Jun 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 25 Jun 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Correlation Between Gastrocnemius Muscle Strain and Functional Performance in Footballers
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07037095
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- DPT/Batch-Fall20/1005
- Conditions
- Muscle Strain
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 158 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Superior UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 4 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Sep 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 25 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Footballers are highly prone to lower extremity injuries due to the intense physical demands of the sport, with calf muscle strains, particularly gastrocnemius injuries, being very common. The gastrocnemius muscle plays a critical role in movement, posture, and athletic performance.
Detailed description
This study aims to determine the correlation between the severity of gastrocnemius muscle strain and functional performance among footballers. Participants aged 18-40 years with clinically diagnosed gastrocnemius strains were assessed using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) and Hop Test. Severity was categorized through physical examination techniques like palpation, passive dorsiflexion stretch, and resisted plantarflexion tests. Data analysis will explore the relationship between strain severity and functional outcomes, providing valuable insights into rehabilitation strategies and return to play decisions for injured athletes. This study addresses a research gap by focusing specifically on footballers and correlating strain severity with sport-specific functional performance.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Retrospective
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Ankle plantar flexion test | – | Diagnostic Test: Ankle plantar flexion test: |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
- Study population
- Footballers are highly prone to lower extremity injuries due to the intense physical demands of the sport, with calf muscle strains, particularly gastrocnemius injuries, being very common.
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Both male and female patients aged between 18 and 40 years.
- At least six months of football training.
- The study focused on players with gastrocnemius muscle injury injuries diagnosed by physical examination; palpation, Stretch Test (Passive Dorsiflexion Test), Resisted Plantarflexion Test.
- Willing to provide written informed consent and comply with study protocols.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Players with Achilles tendon injuries were excluded from the study.
- History of extrinsic trauma
- soleus or other calf injury not meeting inclusion conditions
- Inability to perform rehabilitation
- No intention to return to full sports act
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Ankle plantar flexion test:Ankle plantarflexion is valid test used to assess for gastrocnemius muscle strain . Patient is asked to actively plantarflex the foot against resistance while examiner Observe ,this action activates the gastrocnemius muscle .The reliability for ankle plantar flexion is 0.81 to 0.99. If the patient reports pain in the region of gastrocnemius, the test is positive. If there is no pain , weakness or difficulty performing plantarflexion then suggest that test is negative. | Diagnostic test | Ankle plantar flexion test |
Primary outcome
Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS)
Time frame: 6 Month
The Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) is a questionnaire used to assess an individual's functional limitations related to their lower extremities. It contains 20 items, each scored on a scale of 0 to 4, with higher scores indicating better function. The total score ranges from 0 to 80, with 80 representing no functional limitations
Hop tests
Time frame: 6 Months
The Hop tests are used to assess lower limb function, particularly after injury, and are scored using the Limb Symmetry Index (LSI) by comparing the injured leg's performance to the uninjured leg. A score of 90% or higher on the LSI is generally considered a satisfactory level of recovery, indicating readiness to return to sports.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 25 Jun 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Muscle Strain, run by Superior University at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Jun 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) (time frame: 6 Month). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 Jun 2025.