MusculoskeletalNCT07560319
Influence of Core Training on Fatigue, Balance and Performance in Adolescent Football Players
A study testing Core Training Group in people with Musculoskeletal and Fatigability, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
Background: Adolescent football players are exposed to high physical and psychological demands due to intensive training, frequent matches, travel, and limited recovery time. These factors can lead to early fatigue, reduced balance, and lower technical performance, all of which may increase the risk of non-contact… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 14 to 18 years, men only
- Conditions the study is for
- Musculoskeletal, Fatigability, Core Muscle Weakness
- What is being tested?
- Core Training Group
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 7 Nov 2025to 21 Apr 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 14 to 18 years
- Men only
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Male adolescent football players aged 14-18 years
- Registered players from Wadi Degla football teams
- Free from lower limb injuries for at least 6 months before the start of the study
- Body mass index between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m²
- Regular participation in football training for at least 6 hours per week
Who cannot join
- Not regularly participating in football training for at least 6 hours per week
- History of major lower limb injury within the last 6 months
- History of lower limb surgery before the study period
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Influence of Core Training on Fatigue, Balance and Performance in Adolescent Football Players (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Background:
Adolescent football players are exposed to high physical and psychological demands due to intensive training, frequent matches, travel, and limited recovery time. These factors can lead to early fatigue, reduced balance, and lower technical performance, all of which may increase the risk of non-contact injuries. The muscles of the trunk (core muscles) help stabilize the spine and pelvis, transfer forces between the upper and lower limbs, and maintain postural control during sport-specific movements. Weak core stability has been linked to poorer balance, reduced fatigue resistance, and suboptimal performance. Although core training is widely used in sports, there is limited evidence on its combined effects on fatigue, balance, and football-specific performance in adolescent players.
Read more
Objectives:
This randomized controlled trial aims to examine whether an 8-week core training program can improve fatigue resistance, balance, and football performance in adolescent football players compared with usual training alone.
Methods:
This is a pre-post, parallel-group randomized controlled trial conducted at Wadi Degla Football Club. Eligible participants are male adolescent football players aged 14-18 years from the 2005, 2006, and 2007 teams, who train regularly (at least 6 hours per week), have a body mass index between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m², and have been free from lower-limb injury or surgery for at least 6 months. Players with recent major lower-limb injuries, surgery, or irregular training will be excluded.
Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups using computer-generated random numbers: (1) a core-training group, which receives an 8-week structured core exercise program in addition to their usual football training, and (2) a control group, which continues usual football training without additional core exercises. Both groups will be assessed before and after the intervention period. Outcome measures will include fatigue-related performance, static and/or dynamic balance, and football-specific performance tests.
Potential Benefits and Risks:
The study may help clarify whether adding core training to routine football practice can enhance fatigue resistance, balance, and functional performance in adolescent football players and potentially reduce injury risk. The exercises are commonly used in sports settings and are considered low risk for healthy athletes; no significant risks beyond normal football training are anticipated. Participation is voluntary, and players may withdraw from the study at any time without any consequences for their team status or medical care.
Read the detailed description
Background and Rationale:
Adolescent football players are exposed to increasing physical and psychological demands due to intensive training schedules, frequent competition, and limited recovery. These demands may contribute to early fatigue, impaired balance, and reduced technical performance, potentially increasing the risk of non-contact musculoskeletal injuries. Additionally, growth-related changes and ongoing neuromuscular development during adolescence may further affect movement control and performance consistency.
The core musculature, including the abdominal, lumbar, pelvic, and hip muscles, plays a fundamental role in trunk stabilization, force transmission, and postural control during football-specific activities such as sprinting, cutting, kicking, and landing. Adequate core stability is considered important for maintaining movement efficiency and performance, particularly under conditions of fatigue. Conversely, insufficient core control has been associated with impaired balance and suboptimal functional performance.
Although core training is widely implemented in sports conditioning programs, current evidence regarding its effectiveness in adolescent football players remains limited and inconclusive. In particular, the combined effects of core training on fatigue resistance, balance, and football-specific performance are not well established in this population. Therefore, further research is needed to determine whether integrating structured core exercises into routine football training provides meaningful additional benefits.
Study Design Overview This study is a randomized controlled trial designed to investigate the effects of an 8-week structured core training program in adolescent football players. The intervention is integrated within a real-world club training environment, allowing for practical applicability of the findings.
Participants will be allocated to either a core training group or a control condition involving routine football training. The study follows a pre-post design to evaluate changes over time and to compare outcomes between groups.
Significance:
The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the evidence base guiding training and injury prevention strategies in youth football. Clarifying the role of core training may support coaches, physiotherapists, and strength and conditioning professionals in optimizing performance development and reducing injury risk in adolescent players.
- Being tested
- Core Training Group
- Keywords
- Adolescent football players, Youth soccer players, Core training, Core stability, Sports performance, Balance, Fatigue, Randomized controlled trial
- Medical subject headings
- Fatigue
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Core Training GroupOther
An 8-week core stability training program including trunk strengthening and stabilization exercises performed in addition to the players' usual football training, three sessions per week under supervision.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Core Training Group | Experimental | Adolescent football players receiving an 8-week structured core training program in addition to their usual football training. Receives: Other: Core Training Group |
| Control Group | No intervention | Adolescent football players continuing their usual football training without the additional core training program. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in fatigue-related performance
Change in fatigue-related performance of adolescent football players from baseline to 8 weeks, assessed using a standardized field-based fatigue protocol fatigue index appropriate for youth football. Higher post-training scores indicate better fatigue resistance.
Measured: Baseline and after 8 weeks of training
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change in balance performance
Change in balance performance from baseline to 8 weeks, assessed using standardized balance tests suitable for adolescent football players. Balance will be measured before and after the 8-week core training period to determine the effect of core training on balance in adolescent football players.
Measured: Baseline and after 8 weeks of training
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 May 2026
- Study start7 Nov 2025
- Primary completion11 Feb 2026
- Study completion21 Apr 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for MusculoskeletalStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Cairo 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- General Organization for Teaching Hospitals and Institutes
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ahmed Rageh Saber Ali, Cairo University
- Investigators
- Ahmed Torad, Phd, Principal investigator, Departement of basic sciences, faculty of physical therapy, kafrelsheikh universityAhmed Saber Rageh, PhD, Study director, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health, Sport and Bioscience, University of East London branch at European Universities in Egypt (EUE).
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07560319
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- FPTBSUREC/0107/14925
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 24 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 11 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: There is no current plan to share individual participant data (IPD) from this trial. Aggregated results will be reported in scientific publications and conference presentations.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Influence of Core Training on Fatigue, Balance and Performance in Adolescent Football Players (Randomized Controlled Trial)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07560319
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- FPTBSUREC/0107/14925
- Keywords
- Adolescent football players, Youth soccer players, Core training, Core stability, Sports performance, Balance, Fatigue, Randomized controlled trial
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- General Organization for Teaching Hospitals and Institutes
- Study start
- 7 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 11 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 21 Apr 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 1 May 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.
Background:
Adolescent football players are exposed to high physical and psychological demands due to intensive training, frequent matches, travel, and limited recovery time. These factors can lead to early fatigue, reduced balance, and lower technical performance, all of which may increase the risk of non-contact injuries. The muscles of the trunk (core muscles) help stabilize the spine and pelvis, transfer forces between the upper and lower limbs, and maintain postural control during sport-specific movements. Weak core stability has been linked to poorer balance, reduced fatigue resistance, and suboptimal performance. Although core training is widely used in sports, there is limited evidence on its combined effects on fatigue, balance, and football-specific performance in adolescent players.
Objectives:
This randomized controlled trial aims to examine whether an 8-week core training program can improve fatigue resistance, balance, and football performance in adolescent football players compared with usual training alone.
Methods:
This is a pre-post, parallel-group randomized controlled trial conducted at Wadi Degla Football Club. Eligible participants are male adolescent football players aged 14-18 years from the 2005, 2006, and 2007 teams, who train regularly (at least 6 hours per week), have a body mass index between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m², and have been free from lower-limb injury or surgery for at least 6 months. Players with recent major lower-limb injuries, surgery, or irregular training will be excluded.
Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups using computer-generated random numbers: (1) a core-training group, which receives an 8-week structured core exercise program in addition to their usual football training, and (2) a control group, which continues usual football training without additional core exercises. Both groups will be assessed before and after the intervention period. Outcome measures will include fatigue-related performance, static and/or dynamic balance, and football-specific performance tests.
Potential Benefits and Risks:
The study may help clarify whether adding core training to routine football practice can enhance fatigue resistance, balance, and functional performance in adolescent football players and potentially reduce injury risk. The exercises are commonly used in sports settings and are considered low risk for healthy athletes; no significant risks beyond normal football training are anticipated. Participation is voluntary, and players may withdraw from the study at any time without any consequences for their team status or medical care.
Detailed description
Background and Rationale:
Adolescent football players are exposed to increasing physical and psychological demands due to intensive training schedules, frequent competition, and limited recovery. These demands may contribute to early fatigue, impaired balance, and reduced technical performance, potentially increasing the risk of non-contact musculoskeletal injuries. Additionally, growth-related changes and ongoing neuromuscular development during adolescence may further affect movement control and performance consistency.
The core musculature, including the abdominal, lumbar, pelvic, and hip muscles, plays a fundamental role in trunk stabilization, force transmission, and postural control during football-specific activities such as sprinting, cutting, kicking, and landing. Adequate core stability is considered important for maintaining movement efficiency and performance, particularly under conditions of fatigue. Conversely, insufficient core control has been associated with impaired balance and suboptimal functional performance.
Although core training is widely implemented in sports conditioning programs, current evidence regarding its effectiveness in adolescent football players remains limited and inconclusive. In particular, the combined effects of core training on fatigue resistance, balance, and football-specific performance are not well established in this population. Therefore, further research is needed to determine whether integrating structured core exercises into routine football training provides meaningful additional benefits.
Study Design Overview This study is a randomized controlled trial designed to investigate the effects of an 8-week structured core training program in adolescent football players. The intervention is integrated within a real-world club training environment, allowing for practical applicability of the findings.
Participants will be allocated to either a core training group or a control condition involving routine football training. The study follows a pre-post design to evaluate changes over time and to compare outcomes between groups.
Significance:
The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the evidence base guiding training and injury prevention strategies in youth football. Clarifying the role of core training may support coaches, physiotherapists, and strength and conditioning professionals in optimizing performance development and reducing injury risk in adolescent 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 Training Group | Experimental | Other: Core Training GroupAdolescent football players receiving an 8-week structured core training program in addition to their usual football training. |
| Control Group | No intervention | –Adolescent football players continuing their usual football training without the additional core training program. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 14 to 18 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Male adolescent football players aged 14-18 years
- Registered players from Wadi Degla football teams
- Free from lower limb injuries for at least 6 months before the start of the study
- Body mass index between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m²
- Regular participation in football training for at least 6 hours per week
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Not regularly participating in football training for at least 6 hours per week
- History of major lower limb injury within the last 6 months
- History of lower limb surgery before the study period
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 Training GroupAn 8-week core stability training program including trunk strengthening and stabilization exercises performed in addition to the players' usual football training, three sessions per week under supervision. | Other | Core Training Group |
Primary outcome
Change in fatigue-related performance
Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks of training
Change in fatigue-related performance of adolescent football players from baseline to 8 weeks, assessed using a standardized field-based fatigue protocol fatigue index appropriate for youth football. Higher post-training scores indicate better fatigue resistance.
1 secondary outcome
Change in balance performance
Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks of training
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 11 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. There is no current plan to share individual participant data (IPD) from this trial. Aggregated results will be reported in scientific publications and conference presentations.
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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.
Ahmed Torad, Phd principal investigator
Departement of basic sciences, faculty of physical therapy, kafrelsheikh university
Ahmed Saber Rageh, PhD study director
Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health, Sport and Bioscience, University of East London branch at European Universities in Egypt (EUE).
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 Training Group in people with Musculoskeletal and Fatigability, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
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 3 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 May 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 Egypt. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Change in fatigue-related performance (time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks of training). 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 11 May 2026.