Hamstring InjuryNCT07484698
Myofascial Release Combined With FIFA 11+: Effects on Hamstring Flexibility and Injury Risk
A study testing FIFA 11+ COMBINE WITH MYOFACICAL RELEASE TECHNIQUE and Routine warm up session in people with Hamstring Injury, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Football is a physically demanding sport that involves frequent jumping, cutting, and sudden changes in direction, making players vulnerable to various musculoskeletal injuries especially around the knee(1, 2). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 16 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Hamstring Injury
- What is being tested?
- FIFA 11+ COMBINE WITH MYOFACICAL RELEASE TECHNIQUE and Routine warm up session
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 28 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 15 Nov 2025to 30 Sep 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 16 to 30 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Male football players aged 16-30 years.
- Able to comply with a 6-week FIFA 11+ program.
- Provide informed consent.
Who cannot join
- Acute or chronic hamstring injury.
- Recent major surgery of the lower limb or ongoing rehab plan.
- Inability to safely perform exercises included in the FIFA 11+ program.
- Non-compliance with baseline assessments or the training schedule.
- Current musculoskeletal injuries affecting lower limb function.
- Unable to achieve ≥65% limb symmetry index (LSI) in any hop test.
- Undergoing physiotherapy or post-rehabilitation care.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Riphah international University Malakand Campus
Chakdara, KPK, 18800
Zavata Afnan, MS NMPT, 03434411214, Zavata.afnan@riphah.edu.pk
Muhammad idrees, MS OMPT
About this study
Official title: Effect of Myofascial Release Combined With the FIFA 11+ Program on Hamstring Flexibility and Injury Risk in Football Players
Football is a physically demanding sport that involves frequent jumping, cutting, and sudden changes in direction, making players vulnerable to various musculoskeletal injuries especially around the knee(1, 2). If not properly addressed, such mechanical demands can place excessive stress on key structures like the Hamstring, ACL and MCL, increasing the risk of injury during high-impact movement(1). Hamstring strains are one of the most common injuries among football players, with significant impact on their performance and career longevity(1). These injuries are especially prevalent due to the high-intensity nature of football, involving rapid sprinting, cutting, and changes of direction. Studies have shown that hamstring strains account for a substantial proportion of all injuries in football, ranging from 12% to 20% of total injuries in professional and amateur levels. Given the high rate of recurrence and the long recovery times associated with hamstring injuries, there has been growing interest in injury prevention programs aimed at reducing the risk of these injuries. Many of these injuries stem from deficits in dynamic balance, inadequate landing strategies, and reduced strength in the lower limbs(3). When such deficits persist, they increase biomechanical load on the knee joint, raising the likelihood of ligament injuries during explosive actions(4). By addressing these movement impairments, programs like FIFA 11+ aim to improve neuromuscular coordination and reduce injury rates among football players
Read the detailed description
Although the FIFA 11+ program has been widely studied, there is limited evidence on its effectiveness in addressing hamstring injury-related factors combined with myofascial release among academy-level male football players in Pakistan. Most existing research focuses on professional athletes from developed countries and often lacks detailed assessments of neuromuscular and biomechanical components. Additionally, few studies have employed a randomized control design. This study will address these gaps by evaluating the FIFA 11+ program using validated assessment tools within a local youth football population.
This study will be significant, as it focuses on an underrepresented group, academy-level male football players in Pakistan, where data on injury prevention remains scarce. By examining the effects of the FIFA 11+ program on hamstring-related biomechanical and neuromuscular outcomes, the study will provide insights beyond basic injury incidence. The results will help inform effective, evidence-based warm-up strategies adapted to the local football environment.
Hamstring injuries are a frequent concern in football, often impairing player performance and longevity. A survey of male footballers from Peshawar clubs found a 53.3% prevalence of lower limb injuries, highlighting high injury risk at the grassroots level in Pakistan.
While FIFA 11+ has demonstrated strong preventive outcomes, its direct impact on flexibility is limited. Myofascial release offers an evidence-based method for improving hamstring extensibility, which could reduce strain risk. By combining MFR with FIFA 11+, this study addresses two major modifiable risk factors, flexibility deficits and poor neuromuscular control, thereby potentially reducing injuries more effectively than either approach alone.
- Conditions
- Hamstring Injury
- Being tested
- FIFA 11+ COMBINE WITH MYOFACICAL RELEASE TECHNIQUE, Routine warm up session
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
FIFA 11+ COMBINE WITH MYOFACICAL RELEASE TECHNIQUEOther
The intervention group will participate in the FIFA 11+ injury prevention program, which includes a structured series of exercises designed to improve strength, balance, and neuromuscular control. The program will be conducted three times per week for Six weeks as part of their regular training schedule. Myofascial Release: Manual therapist will perform standardized MFR techniques on hamstring fascia prior to FIFA 11+ sessions, lasting 10-15 minutes.
Routine warm up sessionOther
the control group will continue their standard warm-up routines without incorporating the FIFA 11+ exercises
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| intervention group | Experimental | The intervention group will participate in the FIFA 11+ injury prevention program, which includes a structured series of exercises designed to improve strength, balance, and neuromuscular control. The program will be conducted three times per week for Six weeks as part of their regular training schedule. Myofascial Release: Manual therapist will perform standardized MFR techniques on hamstring fascia prior to FIFA 11+ sessions, lasting 10-15 minutes. Receives: Other: FIFA 11+ COMBINE WITH MYOFACICAL RELEASE TECHNIQUE |
| Control group | Experimental | the control group will continue their standard warm-up routines without incorporating the FIFA 11+ exercises. Frequency: 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks (same as the intervention group).
Consistency: Participants will continue their usual warm-up routine without modifications. Receives: Other: Routine warm up session |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Injury Surveillance Form
An injury surveillance form is a standardized data-collection tool used by medical professionals, public health agencies, and safety officers to systematically track the incidence, causes, and impacts of injuries.
Measured: six weeks
Manual Muscle Testing for strength
to assess the muscles' strength on a scale of 5
Measured: Six weeks
Passive Straight Leg Raise with Goniometer
to assess hamstring flexibility
Measured: Six weeks
Single-Leg Hop Test for Distance
(To assess functional outcome)
Measured: Six weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Mar 2026
- Study start15 Nov 2025
- Primary completion30 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Sep 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Hamstring InjuryStudies 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 28 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Zavata Afnan, MS NMPT, Principal investigator, Riphah International University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07484698
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC-01025 Muhammand Idrees
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 16 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 20 Jul 2026
- 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 20 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Myofascial Release Combined With the FIFA 11+ Program on Hamstring Flexibility and Injury Risk in Football Players
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07484698
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REC-01025 Muhammand Idrees
- Conditions
- Hamstring Injury
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 28 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 20 Mar 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 is a physically demanding sport that involves frequent jumping, cutting, and sudden changes in direction, making players vulnerable to various musculoskeletal injuries especially around the knee(1, 2). If not properly addressed, such mechanical demands can place excessive stress on key structures like the Hamstring, ACL and MCL, increasing the risk of injury during high-impact movement(1). Hamstring strains are one of the most common injuries among football players, with significant impact on their performance and career longevity(1). These injuries are especially prevalent due to the high-intensity nature of football, involving rapid sprinting, cutting, and changes of direction. Studies have shown that hamstring strains account for a substantial proportion of all injuries in football, ranging from 12% to 20% of total injuries in professional and amateur levels. Given the high rate of recurrence and the long recovery times associated with hamstring injuries, there has been growing interest in injury prevention programs aimed at reducing the risk of these injuries. Many of these injuries stem from deficits in dynamic balance, inadequate landing strategies, and reduced strength in the lower limbs(3). When such deficits persist, they increase biomechanical load on the knee joint, raising the likelihood of ligament injuries during explosive actions(4). By addressing these movement impairments, programs like FIFA 11+ aim to improve neuromuscular coordination and reduce injury rates among football players
Detailed description
Although the FIFA 11+ program has been widely studied, there is limited evidence on its effectiveness in addressing hamstring injury-related factors combined with myofascial release among academy-level male football players in Pakistan. Most existing research focuses on professional athletes from developed countries and often lacks detailed assessments of neuromuscular and biomechanical components. Additionally, few studies have employed a randomized control design. This study will address these gaps by evaluating the FIFA 11+ program using validated assessment tools within a local youth football population.
This study will be significant, as it focuses on an underrepresented group, academy-level male football players in Pakistan, where data on injury prevention remains scarce. By examining the effects of the FIFA 11+ program on hamstring-related biomechanical and neuromuscular outcomes, the study will provide insights beyond basic injury incidence. The results will help inform effective, evidence-based warm-up strategies adapted to the local football environment.
Hamstring injuries are a frequent concern in football, often impairing player performance and longevity. A survey of male footballers from Peshawar clubs found a 53.3% prevalence of lower limb injuries, highlighting high injury risk at the grassroots level in Pakistan.
While FIFA 11+ has demonstrated strong preventive outcomes, its direct impact on flexibility is limited. Myofascial release offers an evidence-based method for improving hamstring extensibility, which could reduce strain risk. By combining MFR with FIFA 11+, this study addresses two major modifiable risk factors, flexibility deficits and poor neuromuscular control, thereby potentially reducing injuries more effectively than either approach alone.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| intervention group | Experimental | Other: FIFA 11+ COMBINE WITH MYOFACICAL RELEASE TECHNIQUEThe intervention group will participate in the FIFA 11+ injury prevention program, which includes a structured series of exercises designed to improve strength, balance, and neuromuscular control. The program will be conducted three times per week for Six weeks as part of their regular training schedule. Myofascial Release: Manual therapist will perform standardized MFR techniques on hamstring fascia prior to FIFA 11+ sessions, lasting 10-15 minutes. |
| Control group | Experimental | Other: Routine warm up sessionthe control group will continue their standard warm-up routines without incorporating the FIFA 11+ exercises. Frequency: 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks (same as the intervention group). Consistency: Participants will continue their usual warm-up routine without modifications. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 16 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Male football players aged 16-30 years.
- Able to comply with a 6-week FIFA 11+ program.
- Provide informed consent.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Acute or chronic hamstring injury.
- Recent major surgery of the lower limb or ongoing rehab plan.
- Inability to safely perform exercises included in the FIFA 11+ program.
- Non-compliance with baseline assessments or the training schedule.
- Current musculoskeletal injuries affecting lower limb function.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| FIFA 11+ COMBINE WITH MYOFACICAL RELEASE TECHNIQUEThe intervention group will participate in the FIFA 11+ injury prevention program, which includes a structured series of exercises designed to improve strength, balance, and neuromuscular control. The program will be conducted three times per week for Six weeks as part of their regular training schedule. Myofascial Release: Manual therapist will perform standardized MFR techniques on hamstring fascia prior to FIFA 11+ sessions, lasting 10-15 minutes. | Other | intervention group |
| Routine warm up sessionthe control group will continue their standard warm-up routines without incorporating the FIFA 11+ exercises | Other | Control group |
Primary outcome
Injury Surveillance Form
Time frame: six weeks
An injury surveillance form is a standardized data-collection tool used by medical professionals, public health agencies, and safety officers to systematically track the incidence, causes, and impacts of injuries.
Manual Muscle Testing for strength
Time frame: Six weeks
to assess the muscles' strength on a scale of 5
Passive Straight Leg Raise with Goniometer
Time frame: Six weeks
to assess hamstring flexibility
Single-Leg Hop Test for Distance
Time frame: Six weeks
(To assess functional outcome)
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 20 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Hamstring Injury
Recruiting
Thermal Therapies in the Treatment of Muscle Injuries
Hamstring Injuries, Hamstring Muscle Repair
Not yet recruiting
Correlation Between Soft Tissue Displacement and Functional Performance in Orthopedic Patients
Hamstring Muscle Strain, Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity
Recruiting
Soft-tissue Quadriceps Autograft ACL-reconstruction in the Skeletally-immature vs. Hamstrings
ACL - Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture
RecruitingObservational study
Neuromuscular Profiles After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
Recruiting
Effects Of Criteria Versus Time-Based Rehabilitation On Return To Play In Football Players
Hamstring Muscle Strain
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.
Zavata Afnan, MS NMPT principal investigator
Riphah International University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing FIFA 11+ COMBINE WITH MYOFACICAL RELEASE TECHNIQUE and Routine warm up session in people with Hamstring Injury, run by Riphah International 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 3 inclusion and 7 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Jul 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 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?
Contact Zavata Afnan, MS NMPT (03434411214, zavata.afnan@riphah.edu.pk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Injury Surveillance Form (time frame: six weeks). The study lists 4 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 20 Jul 2026.