Gymnastics Injury, Motor Learning, BalanceMotor ProgressNCT07614334
Effects of a 6-Month Gymnastics Program on Somatotype and Motor Performance in Children Across Age Groups
A study testing Gymnastic Exercise in people with Gymnastics Injury, Motor Learning, Balance, run by Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University at 1 site in Kazakhstan.
Trial summary
The study adopted a controlled 6-month study design to compare the gymnastics group (n= 56) with the inactive control group (n=88). Anthropometric profiling, somatotype assessment, and motor performance tests were conducted pre- and post-intervention Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 4 to 12 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Gymnastics Injury, Motor Learning, Balance
- What is being tested?
- Gymnastic Exercise
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 144 participants
- Where
- 1 siteKazakhstan
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2025to 1 Jun 2025
- 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 4 to 12 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- For Experimental Group: Active and continuous participation in a gymnastics program during the entire 6-month period.
- Inactive control group : comprised participants who did not practice any form of sports, athletics, and physical training outside their usual physical education classes at school.
Who cannot join
- the presence of any chronic metabolic, cardiovascular, and endocrine disorders;
- a history of severe musculoskeletal injuries and orthopedic surgeries within the past year;
- the use of medications known to have a significant impact on body composition and physical performance; and
- an attendance rate of less than 85% for the gymnastics sessions (only for the intervention group).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
The study adopted a controlled 6-month study design to compare the gymnastics group (n= 56) with the inactive control group (n=88). Anthropometric profiling, somatotype assessment, and motor performance tests were conducted pre- and post-intervention
Read the detailed description
The study design for the present investigation was prospective, controlled, and observational with a duration of 6 months. The repeated measures design approach has been used to assess the neuromuscular and morphological adaptations (Pre-test vs. Post-test) for the gymnastics and inactive groups. The intervention and observation period for the study was 2 days x 24 weeks.
To ensure high internal validity and to minimize the effects of circadian rhythm changes, all pre- and post-test assessments were conducted during the morning hours, between 09:00 and 11:30 AM, under similar environmental conditions (temperature and humidity). Prior to the pre-test, standardized pre-test procedures were clearly explained to the participants and their parents. Children were instructed to adhere to their routine sleeping habits (minimum 8 hours of sleep) and abstain from any strenuous physical activity and sports for at least 24 hours prior to the pre- and post-test assessments.
With regard to the standardized nutritional conditions, the participants were instructed to adhere to their routine diet but abstain from heavy meals for at least 2 hours prior to the pre- and post-test assessments. Participants were allowed to drink water ad libitum up to 30 minutes prior to the assessments.
On the assessment days, a logical and non-fatiguing sequence of the pre- and post-test assessments was strictly followed. Non-invasive anthropometric assessments such as stature, body mass, skinfolds, girths, and breadths were conducted for all the participants, while they were in a rested and non-sweated condition. After the anthropometric assessments, the participants were administered a standardized 10-minute dynamic warm-up procedure by a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Subsequently, the motor performance tests were conducted. To prevent the participants from fatigue, the physical tests were conducted from the least to the most fatiguing, from flexibility to muscular endurance and sprint capacity, with strict adherence to the intervening time of 3-5 minutes between the assessments
.
- Being tested
- Gymnastic Exercise
- Keywords
- Children, Gymnastics, Somatotype, Motor Performance
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Gymnastic ExerciseOther
Gymnastic Training for six month
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Gymnastic Exercise |
| Control Group | No intervention | Not described |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Circumferences (Girths) Measurements
Girth measurements were taken to the nearest 0.1 cm using a flexible, non-stretchable anthropometric tape measure (Lufkin W606PM, Apex Tool Group). The measured girths included the head, neck, shoulder, chest, waist, hip, relaxed arm, forearm, thigh, maximum calf, and ankle circumferences. Care was taken to ensure the tape measure was at a right angle to the long axis of the body segment and did not compress the subcutaneous tissue.
Measured: 6 month
Skinfold Thickness Measurements
Skinfold thicknesses were measured to the nearest 0.1 mm using a Harpenden skinfold caliper (Baty International, West Sussex, UK). Measurements were taken in duplicate at nine standardized sites: triceps, subscapular, biceps, chest, axillary, abdominal, suprailiac, anterior thigh, and medial calf. If the difference between the first two measurements exceeded 5%, a third measurement was taken, and the median value was recorded for analysis. Furthermore, to obtain a comprehensive and robust quantification of total subcutaneous adiposity, the sum of all nine measured skinfolds (Σ9SF) was calculated. In pediatric kinanthropometry, the absolute sum of multiple skinfold sites is widely recognized as a highly reliable proxy for total body fatness, as it circumvents the inherent biological maturation errors and prediction biases associated with population-specific body density and body fat percentage equations.
Measured: 6 month
Waist-to-Height Ratio
Calculated by dividing waist circumference (cm) by standing height (cm). This ratio serves as a highly validated, age-independent proxy for central adiposity and health risk in pediatric populations.
Measured: Six Month
Segment Lengths and Bone Breadths Measurements
Segment lengths (arm span, total arm, forearm, total leg, thigh, tibia, and foot lengths) were measured using a segmometer and anthropometric tape to the nearest 0.1 cm. Skeletal breadths were measured to the nearest 0.1 cm using a sliding spreading caliper. The breadth measurements included the shoulder, biacromial, biiliac, bitrochanteric, knee (biepicondylar femur), elbow (biepicondylar humerus), and wrist.
Measured: Six Month
Body Fat (BF) and Fat-Free Mass
Relative body fat percentage (BF%) was estimated using the pediatric-specific skinfold equations developed by Slaughter et al. Specifically, this calculation utilized the sum of the triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses, adjusted for biological sex and maturation, which is considered the gold standard for clinical field assessments in youth. Subsequently, total body fat mass was determined, and absolute Fat-Free Mass (FFM in kg) was calculated by subtracting this estimated fat mass from the total body mass.
Measured: six month
Skeletal Muscle Mass
Total skeletal muscle mass (kg) was estimated by employing validated anthropometric prediction models for children and adolescents, which account for standing height as well as corrected limb girths (i.e., thigh, calf, and arm circumferences that have been corrected for their respective overlying subcutaneous adipose tissue thicknesses).
Measured: six month
Arm Muscle Area
AMA was calculated to estimate regional upper-body muscularity and protein reserves. AMA (cm²) was derived from relaxed arm girth (cm) and triceps skinfold thickness (cm) using the standard anthropometric equation
Measured: six month
Somatotype
The anthropometric somatotype components, namely endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectomorphy, were calculated according to the Heath-Carter method [17, 24].
Endomorphy was estimated based on the height-adjusted sum of three skinfold thicknesses: triceps, subscapular, and suprailiac.
Measured: six month
Motor Performance Tests
Flexibility (Sit and Reach Test):
Lower-Body Explosive Power:
Muscular Endurance:
Speed (20-m Sprint):
Measured: six month
Body Composition
Endomorphy was estimated based on the height-adjusted sum of three skinfold thicknesses: triceps, subscapular, and suprailiac.
Mesomorphy was determined using humerus (elbow) breadth, femur (knee) breadth, height, and corrected limb girths. Corrected arm girth (CAG) and corrected calf girth (CCG) were adjusted for the corresponding skinfold thicknesses.
Ectomorphy was derived from the Height-Weight Ratio (HWR), which was calculated as height divided by the cube root of body mass.
Measured: 6 months
Weight
Participants were assessed barefoot and wearing minimal clothing. Participants' body weight was measured using a Seca (Seca GmbH, Hamburg, Germany) scale with an accuracy of 0.1 kg.
Measured: 6 Month
Height
Participants' height was measured using a Seca (Seca GmbH, Hamburg, Germany) stadiometer with an accuracy of 0.1 cm.
Measured: 6 month
Body Mass Index
Participants' body mass indices (BMI) were calculated using the weight/height² formula (kg/m² ).
Measured: 6 month
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 May 2026
- Study start1 Jan 2025
- Primary completion1 Jun 2025
- Study completion1 Jun 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Gymnastics Injury, Motor Learning, BalanceStudies 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
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 144 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ahmet KURTOĞLU, Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07614334
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- BanirmaOnyediEylulU
- Acronym
- Motor Progress
- Status last verified
- Jan 2025
- First submitted
- 5 May 2026
- Last updated
- 29 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of a 6-Month Gymnastics Program on Somatotype and Motor Performance in Children Across Age Groups
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07614334
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Motor Progress / BanirmaOnyediEylulU
- Keywords
- Children, Gymnastics, Somatotype, Motor Performance
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 144 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Bandırma Onyedi Eylül UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Jun 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 29 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.
The study adopted a controlled 6-month study design to compare the gymnastics group (n= 56) with the inactive control group (n=88). Anthropometric profiling, somatotype assessment, and motor performance tests were conducted pre- and post-intervention
Detailed description
The study design for the present investigation was prospective, controlled, and observational with a duration of 6 months. The repeated measures design approach has been used to assess the neuromuscular and morphological adaptations (Pre-test vs. Post-test) for the gymnastics and inactive groups. The intervention and observation period for the study was 2 days x 24 weeks.
To ensure high internal validity and to minimize the effects of circadian rhythm changes, all pre- and post-test assessments were conducted during the morning hours, between 09:00 and 11:30 AM, under similar environmental conditions (temperature and humidity). Prior to the pre-test, standardized pre-test procedures were clearly explained to the participants and their parents. Children were instructed to adhere to their routine sleeping habits (minimum 8 hours of sleep) and abstain from any strenuous physical activity and sports for at least 24 hours prior to the pre- and post-test assessments.
With regard to the standardized nutritional conditions, the participants were instructed to adhere to their routine diet but abstain from heavy meals for at least 2 hours prior to the pre- and post-test assessments. Participants were allowed to drink water ad libitum up to 30 minutes prior to the assessments.
On the assessment days, a logical and non-fatiguing sequence of the pre- and post-test assessments was strictly followed. Non-invasive anthropometric assessments such as stature, body mass, skinfolds, girths, and breadths were conducted for all the participants, while they were in a rested and non-sweated condition. After the anthropometric assessments, the participants were administered a standardized 10-minute dynamic warm-up procedure by a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Subsequently, the motor performance tests were conducted. To prevent the participants from fatigue, the physical tests were conducted from the least to the most fatiguing, from flexibility to muscular endurance and sprint capacity, with strict adherence to the intervening time of 3-5 minutes between the assessments
.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group | Experimental | Other: Gymnastic Exercise |
| Control Group | No intervention | – |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 4 to 12 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- For Experimental Group: Active and continuous participation in a gymnastics program during the entire 6-month period.
- Inactive control group : comprised participants who did not practice any form of sports, athletics, and physical training outside their usual physical education classes at school.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- the presence of any chronic metabolic, cardiovascular, and endocrine disorders;
- a history of severe musculoskeletal injuries and orthopedic surgeries within the past year;
- the use of medications known to have a significant impact on body composition and physical performance; and
- an attendance rate of less than 85% for the gymnastics sessions (only for the intervention group).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Gymnastic ExerciseGymnastic Training for six month | Other | Experimental Group |
Primary outcome
Circumferences (Girths) Measurements
Time frame: 6 month
Girth measurements were taken to the nearest 0.1 cm using a flexible, non-stretchable anthropometric tape measure (Lufkin W606PM, Apex Tool Group). The measured girths included the head, neck, shoulder, chest, waist, hip, relaxed arm, forearm, thigh, maximum calf, and ankle circumferences. Care was taken to ensure the tape measure was at a right angle to the long axis of the body segment and did not compress the subcutaneous tissue.
Skinfold Thickness Measurements
Time frame: 6 month
Skinfold thicknesses were measured to the nearest 0.1 mm using a Harpenden skinfold caliper (Baty International, West Sussex, UK). Measurements were taken in duplicate at nine standardized sites: triceps, subscapular, biceps, chest, axillary, abdominal, suprailiac, anterior thigh, and medial calf. If the difference between the first two measurements exceeded 5%, a third measurement was taken, and the median value was recorded for analysis. Furthermore, to obtain a comprehensive and robust quantification of total subcutaneous adiposity, the sum of all nine measured skinfolds (Σ9SF) was calculated. In pediatric kinanthropometry, the absolute sum of multiple skinfold sites is widely recognized as a highly reliable proxy for total body fatness, as it circumvents the inherent biological maturation errors and prediction biases associated with population-specific body density and body fat percentage equations.
Waist-to-Height Ratio
Time frame: Six Month
Calculated by dividing waist circumference (cm) by standing height (cm). This ratio serves as a highly validated, age-independent proxy for central adiposity and health risk in pediatric populations.
Segment Lengths and Bone Breadths Measurements
Time frame: Six Month
Segment lengths (arm span, total arm, forearm, total leg, thigh, tibia, and foot lengths) were measured using a segmometer and anthropometric tape to the nearest 0.1 cm. Skeletal breadths were measured to the nearest 0.1 cm using a sliding spreading caliper. The breadth measurements included the shoulder, biacromial, biiliac, bitrochanteric, knee (biepicondylar femur), elbow (biepicondylar humerus), and wrist.
Body Fat (BF) and Fat-Free Mass
Time frame: six month
Relative body fat percentage (BF%) was estimated using the pediatric-specific skinfold equations developed by Slaughter et al. Specifically, this calculation utilized the sum of the triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses, adjusted for biological sex and maturation, which is considered the gold standard for clinical field assessments in youth. Subsequently, total body fat mass was determined, and absolute Fat-Free Mass (FFM in kg) was calculated by subtracting this estimated fat mass from the total body mass.
Skeletal Muscle Mass
Time frame: six month
Total skeletal muscle mass (kg) was estimated by employing validated anthropometric prediction models for children and adolescents, which account for standing height as well as corrected limb girths (i.e., thigh, calf, and arm circumferences that have been corrected for their respective overlying subcutaneous adipose tissue thicknesses).
Arm Muscle Area
Time frame: six month
AMA was calculated to estimate regional upper-body muscularity and protein reserves. AMA (cm²) was derived from relaxed arm girth (cm) and triceps skinfold thickness (cm) using the standard anthropometric equation
Somatotype
Time frame: six month
The anthropometric somatotype components, namely endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectomorphy, were calculated according to the Heath-Carter method [17, 24]. Endomorphy was estimated based on the height-adjusted sum of three skinfold thicknesses: triceps, subscapular, and suprailiac.
Motor Performance Tests
Time frame: six month
Flexibility (Sit and Reach Test): Lower-Body Explosive Power: Muscular Endurance: Speed (20-m Sprint):
Body Composition
Time frame: 6 months
Endomorphy was estimated based on the height-adjusted sum of three skinfold thicknesses: triceps, subscapular, and suprailiac. Mesomorphy was determined using humerus (elbow) breadth, femur (knee) breadth, height, and corrected limb girths. Corrected arm girth (CAG) and corrected calf girth (CCG) were adjusted for the corresponding skinfold thicknesses. Ectomorphy was derived from the Height-Weight Ratio (HWR), which was calculated as height divided by the cube root of body mass.
Weight
Time frame: 6 Month
Participants were assessed barefoot and wearing minimal clothing. Participants' body weight was measured using a Seca (Seca GmbH, Hamburg, Germany) scale with an accuracy of 0.1 kg.
Height
Time frame: 6 month
Participants' height was measured using a Seca (Seca GmbH, Hamburg, Germany) stadiometer with an accuracy of 0.1 cm.
Body Mass Index
Time frame: 6 month
Participants' body mass indices (BMI) were calculated using the weight/height² formula (kg/m² ).
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 29 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes
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?
A study testing Gymnastic Exercise in people with Gymnastics Injury, Motor Learning, Balance, run by Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University at 1 site in Kazakhstan.
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 2 inclusion and 4 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 29 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 Kazakhstan. 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?
Circumferences (Girths) Measurements (time frame: 6 month). The study lists 13 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 29 May 2026.