This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a personalized preventive physiotherapy and exercise program based on biological maturation status in adolescents aged 14 to 15 years. During adolescence, rapid growth and differences in biological maturation can increase the risk of musculoskeletal imbalances, pain, and injuries, especially in physically active youth. However, most preventive programs are designed according to chronological age rather than biological development. Participants will be assessed using non-invasive methods to determine biological maturation, body composition, and musculoskeletal function, including strength, balance, mobility, and postural control. Based on these assessments, participants in the intervention group will receive a 12-week individualized preventive physiotherapy program adapted to their maturation stage, while the control group will continue with their usual school or sports activities without structured intervention. The study will compare changes in musculoskeletal function, body composition, pain perception, and lifestyle-related variables between baseline and post-intervention assessments. The results are expected to provide evidence for a maturation-based preventive approach that can be applied in clinical, school, and sports settings to reduce injury risk and improve musculoskeletal health in adolescents.
Adolescence is a critical period of physical development characterized by rapid growth and significant interindividual variability in biological maturation. These changes can temporarily affect coordination, strength, and musculoskeletal balance, increasing the risk of pain, functional limitations, and sports-related injuries. Traditional preventive and training programs are commonly based on chronological age, which may not adequately reflect an adolescent's true biological development. This study is a prospective, longitudinal, interventional study with a pre-post design and a non-randomized control group. A total of approximately 120 adolescents aged 14 to 15 years will be recruited from educational and sports institutions. Participants will be allocated to either an intervention group or a control group. At baseline, all participants will undergo a comprehensive non-invasive assessment including anthropometry, estimation of biological maturation using validated predictive equations for peak height velocity, body composition analysis, and musculoskeletal function tests assessing strength, balance, mobility, and core stability. Subjective measures such as pain perception, sleep quality, physical activity level, and general well-being will also be collected using validated questionnaires. Participants in the intervention group will complete a 12-week personalized preventive physiotherapy and exercise program, consisting of two supervised sessions per week. The program will be tailored to each participant's maturation status and functional profile, focusing on neuromuscular control, mobility, strength development, and postural stability. Periodic reassessments will allow for individualized progression and adjustment of the intervention. The control group will continue with their usual routines without receiving a structured preventive program. Post-intervention assessments will replicate baseline measurements to evaluate changes over time. The primary outcomes will include changes in musculoskeletal function parameters, while secondary outcomes will assess body composition, pain perception, lifestyle variables, and adherence to the intervention. The findings of this study aim to support the use of biologically informed preventive strategies in adolescents and to contribute to the development of scalable, evidence-based programs for clinical, educational, and sports environments.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
120
This intervention consists of a personalized preventive physiotherapy and exercise program designed according to each participant's biological maturation status and functional assessment. The program lasts 12 weeks and includes two supervised sessions per week. Sessions focus on neuromuscular control, strength development, mobility, balance, core stability, and postural control. The intervention is individualized based on baseline and periodic reassessments, allowing progression and adjustment throughout the program. All sessions are supervised by qualified professionals.
European Institute of Exercise and Health
Alicante, Elche, Spain
Lower-limb Strength (Isometric)
Change in lower-limb isometric strength assessed using digital dynamometry during standardized testing procedures.
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Postural Balance
Change in postural balance assessed using instrumented balance testing (e.g., force platform and inertial sensors) during standardized static and dynamic tasks.
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Mobility / Range of Motion
Change in joint mobility assessed as active range of motion using motion sensors or standardized mobility tests.
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Postural Control
Change in postural control parameters derived from instrumented postural assessment (e.g., center of pressure metrics and/or inertial sensor outputs) during standardized tasks.
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Core Stability / Core Control
Change in core stability assessed using a standardized core control test protocol (e.g., ICAROS-based assessment).
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Vertical Jump Performance
Change in vertical jump performance assessed using squat jump and/or countermovement jump measured with a load cell or force platform.
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Fat Mass
Change in fat mass assessed using multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis and/or anthropometric assessment, following standardized procedures.
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Skeletal Muscle Mass
Change in skeletal muscle mass and/or fat-free mass assessed using multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis, following standardized procedures.
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Phase Angle
Change in phase angle derived from multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Maturity Offset
Change in maturity offset estimated using validated anthropometric equations.
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Peak Height Velocity (PHV) Status
Change in estimated PHV status (pre-, circa-, post-PHV) derived from validated predictive equations.
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity
Change in self-reported musculoskeletal pain intensity assessed using a standardized pain rating scale.
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Physical Activity Level (PAQ-A)
Change in physical activity level assessed using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A).
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Sleep Quality
Change in self-reported sleep quality assessed using a standardized questionnaire.
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Intervention Adherence
Adherence measured as the percentage of completed supervised sessions out of the total prescribed sessions during the 12-week intervention.
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
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