Dynamic Balance, Hop Performance and Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) in Professional Football PlayersNCT07387029
Core Stability Training With Balloon Breathing on Balance and Performance in Football Players
A study testing Core Stability Training and Balloon Breathing Exercise in people with Dynamic Balance, Hop Performance and Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) in Professional Football Players, run by Gulf Medical University at 1 site in United Arab Emirates.
Trial summary
Football players require good core strength and balance to perform well and reduce the risk of injury. The muscles of the trunk and diaphragm play an important role in maintaining stability, posture, and movement control during sports activities. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 28 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Dynamic Balance, Hop Performance and Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) in Professional Football Players
- What is being tested?
- Core Stability Training and Balloon Breathing Exercise
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 68 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited Arab Emirates
- Study dates
- Feb 2026to Aug 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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 28 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Male professional football players aged 18 to 35 years
- Currently playing at club level
- Free from musculoskeletal injury for at least 6 months prior to enrollment
- Willing to participate and provide written informed consent
- Able to participate in regular football training and exercise programs
Who cannot join
- Current musculoskeletal injury or pain affecting training or performance
- History of lower limb or spinal surgery within the past year
- Any neurological, cardiovascular, or respiratory condition that limits physical activity
- Participation in any structured core stability or breathing training program within the past 3 months
- Female players
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United Arab Emirates1 site
Gulf medical University
Ajman, Al Jurf
About this study
Official title: Core Stability Training With Ball and Balloon Exercise on Dynamic Balance, Hop Performance, and Core Endurance in Professional Football Players - A Randomized Clinical Trial
Football players require good core strength and balance to perform well and reduce the risk of injury. The muscles of the trunk and diaphragm play an important role in maintaining stability, posture, and movement control during sports activities.
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of core stability training combined with balloon breathing exercises on dynamic balance, hop performance, and core endurance in professional football players. Balloon breathing exercises are designed to improve diaphragmatic breathing and trunk muscle activation.
Read more
Eligible football players will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will receive core stability training combined with balloon breathing exercises along with regular football training, while the other group will receive core stability training with regular football training only. The intervention will be performed three times per week for eight weeks under the supervision of a physiotherapist.
Outcome measures, including dynamic balance, hop performances, core endurance, and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), will be assessed at baseline, during the intervention, at the end of the program, and at a three-month follow-up. The findings of this study may help improve training strategies aimed at enhancing performance and reducing injury risk in football players.
- Being tested
- Core Stability Training, Balloon Breathing Exercise
- Keywords
- Dynamic balance, Diaphragmatic breathing, Core stability
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Core Stability TrainingOther
McGill's Big Three core stability exercises including curl-up, side bridge, and bird-dog exercises performed three times per week for eight weeks, with progression to unstable surfaces as tolerated.
Balloon Breathing ExerciseOther
Diaphragmatic breathing exercise involving controlled inhalation through the nose and prolonged exhalation into a balloon while maintaining trunk engagement, performed alongside core exercises for eight weeks.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Core Stability Training With Balloon Breathing | Experimental | Participants receive a structured core stability training program combined with balloon breathing exercises along with regular football training for 8 weeks. Receives: Other: Core Stability Training; Other: Balloon Breathing Exercise |
| Core Stability Training Only | Active comparator | Participants receive the same structured core stability training program without balloon breathing exercises, along with regular football training for 8 weeks. Receives: Other: Core Stability Training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Dynamic Balance (Y-Balance Test)
Dynamic balance will be assessed using the Y-Balance Test. Reach distances in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions will be measured and normalized to leg length.
Measured: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks post-intervention
Secondary outcomes (4)
Core Muscle Endurance
Core endurance will be assessed using McGill's trunk endurance tests, including trunk flexor hold, trunk extensor hold, and side bridge hold tests. The duration (in seconds) each position is maintained will be recorded.
Measured: Baseline and 8 weeks
Lower Limb Hop Performance
Hop performance will be evaluated using single-leg hop, triple hop, and crossover hop tests. The distance hopped will be measured in centimeters.
Measured: Baseline and 8 weeks
Vertical Jump Height
Vertical jump height will be measured using a validated smartphone application (My Jump 2). The average of the best two out of three trials will be recorded.
Measured: Baseline and 8 weeks
maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV)
Inspiratory muscle strength will be assessed using a portable respiratory pressure meter. The highest value from three maximal inspiratory efforts will be recorded.
Measured: Baseline and 8 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Feb 2026
- Study startFeb 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionMay 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionAug 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Dynamic Balance, Hop Performance and Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) in Professional Football PlayersStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 68 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Gulf Medical University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07387029
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB-COHS-STD-117-Dec-2025
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 4 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Core Stability Training With Ball and Balloon Exercise on Dynamic Balance, Hop Performance, and Core Endurance in Professional Football Players - A Randomized Clinical Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07387029
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB-COHS-STD-117-Dec-2025
- Keywords
- Dynamic balance, Diaphragmatic breathing, Core stability
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 68 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Gulf Medical UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Aug 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 Feb 2026 (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.
Football players require good core strength and balance to perform well and reduce the risk of injury. The muscles of the trunk and diaphragm play an important role in maintaining stability, posture, and movement control during sports activities.
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of core stability training combined with balloon breathing exercises on dynamic balance, hop performance, and core endurance in professional football players. Balloon breathing exercises are designed to improve diaphragmatic breathing and trunk muscle activation.
Eligible football players will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will receive core stability training combined with balloon breathing exercises along with regular football training, while the other group will receive core stability training with regular football training only. The intervention will be performed three times per week for eight weeks under the supervision of a physiotherapist.
Outcome measures, including dynamic balance, hop performances, core endurance, and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), will be assessed at baseline, during the intervention, at the end of the program, and at a three-month follow-up. The findings of this study may help improve training strategies aimed at enhancing performance and reducing injury risk in football players.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Core Stability Training With Balloon Breathing | Experimental | Other: Core Stability Training, Other: Balloon Breathing ExerciseParticipants receive a structured core stability training program combined with balloon breathing exercises along with regular football training for 8 weeks. |
| Core Stability Training Only | Active comparator | Other: Core Stability TrainingParticipants receive the same structured core stability training program without balloon breathing exercises, along with regular football training for 8 weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 28 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Male professional football players aged 18 to 35 years
- Currently playing at club level
- Free from musculoskeletal injury for at least 6 months prior to enrollment
- Willing to participate and provide written informed consent
- Able to participate in regular football training and exercise programs
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Current musculoskeletal injury or pain affecting training or performance
- History of lower limb or spinal surgery within the past year
- Any neurological, cardiovascular, or respiratory condition that limits physical activity
- Participation in any structured core stability or breathing training program within the past 3 months
- Female players
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Core Stability TrainingMcGill's Big Three core stability exercises including curl-up, side bridge, and bird-dog exercises performed three times per week for eight weeks, with progression to unstable surfaces as tolerated. | Other | Core Stability Training Only, Core Stability Training With Balloon Breathing |
| Balloon Breathing ExerciseDiaphragmatic breathing exercise involving controlled inhalation through the nose and prolonged exhalation into a balloon while maintaining trunk engagement, performed alongside core exercises for eight weeks. | Other | Core Stability Training With Balloon Breathing |
Primary outcome
Dynamic Balance (Y-Balance Test)
Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks post-intervention
Dynamic balance will be assessed using the Y-Balance Test. Reach distances in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions will be measured and normalized to leg length.
4 secondary outcomes
Core Muscle Endurance
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Lower Limb Hop Performance
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Vertical Jump Height
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV)
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
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 4 Feb 2026.
- The effect of core stability training on ball-kicking velocity, sprint speed, and agility in adolescent male football playersLink provided by the sponsor.
- Core stability training for injury preventionLink provided by the sponsor.
- Effects of neuromuscular training on athletes physical fitness in sports: A systematic reviewLink provided by the sponsor.
- Effects of McGill stabilization exercises and conventional physiotherapy on pain, functional disability and active back range of motion in patients with chronic non-specific low back painLink provided by the sponsor.
- Revisiting the continuum model of tendon pathology: what is its merit in clinical practice and research?Link provided by the sponsor.
- Management of patellar tendinopathy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised studiesLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Core Stability Training and Balloon Breathing Exercise in people with Dynamic Balance, Hop Performance and Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) in Professional Football Players, run by Gulf Medical University at 1 site in United Arab Emirates.
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 5 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Feb 2026. 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 United Arab Emirates. 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?
Contact Rajaskar Sannasi (+971508365724, dr.rajasekar@gmu.ac.ae), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Dynamic Balance (Y-Balance Test) (time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks post-intervention). 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 4 Feb 2026.