Correlation Between Gastrocnemius Muscle Strain and Functional Performance in Footballers

NCT ID: NCT07037095

Last Updated: 2025-06-25

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Total Enrollment: 158 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-03-04
• Study Completion Date: 2025-09-30

Brief 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.

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

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: CASE_CONTROL
• Study Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

Ankle plantar flexion test

Ankle plantar flexion test:

Intervention Type: 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.

Interventions

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.

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 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.

Exclusion Criteria

• 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

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Superior University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Muhammad Naveed Babur

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Superior university support club

Lahore, , Pakistan

Countries

Pakistan

Other Identifiers

DPT/Batch-Fall20/1005

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id