Genu Varum, Change of Direction, and Reactive Agility in Youth Football Players

Akdeniz University34 enrolled

Overview

The goal of this observational study is to compare change-of-direction (COD) and reactive agility (RA) performance between football players with and without genu varum and to examine whether lower-limb alignment is associated with these performance measures. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Do football players with and without genu varum differ in COD and RA performance? 2. Is lower-limb alignment associated with COD and RA performance in football players with and without genu varum? Football players with and without genu varum will undergo assessments of lower-limb alignment, COD performance, and RA performance. The study will compare performance between the two groups and examine the relationship between lower-limb alignment and performance measures.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Genu Varum

Eligibility

Sex: MALEMin age: 13 YearsMax age: 19 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * At least five years of football experience * Participation in football training at least five days per week * Voluntary participation in the study Exclusion Criteria: * History of lower extremity surgery * Current musculoskeletal injury affecting performance

Locations (1)

Akdeniz University

Antalya, Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change-of-direction performance

Change-of-direction performance will be assessed using the SpeedCourt system (Globalspeed GmbH, Hemsbach, Germany). The test consists of a 14.5-m running course with four changes of direction. Performance will be evaluated based on total completion time, with lower times indicating better change-of-direction performance.

Time frame: at basline

Reactive agility performance

Reactive agility performance will be assessed using the SpeedCourt system (Globalspeed GmbH, Hemsbach, Germany). Participants will respond as quickly and accurately as possible to randomly presented visual stimuli and perform the required directional movements. Performance will be evaluated based on total completion time, with lower times indicating better reactive agility performance.

Time frame: at basline

Secondary Outcomes

Intercondylar distance and intermalleolar distance

Lower-limb alignment will be assessed by measuring intercondylar distance (ICD) and intermalleolar distance (IMD) in centimeters. ICD will be measured as the distance between the medial femoral condyles, and IMD as the distance between the medial malleoli, using a standardized measurement procedure.

Time frame: at basline