Investigation of cycle-related differences in functional knee stability and muscle activity in healthy female football players.
Conditions
Interventions
Group 1: Healthy female football players with a regular menstrual cycle. Participants are enrolled in a prospective, non-interventional observational study with repeated assessments over time. No inte
Sponsors
Universitätsmedizin Mainz
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
Female
Age
16 Years to 32 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: • Active player in a professional soccer club (at least two training sessions per week) • Regular cycle (approx. 25–35 days) in the last three months • Written consent (if < 18 years of age, additional consent from legal guardian required)
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: - Use of hormonal contraceptives (oral preparations, hormonal IUD, implant, depot preparations, etc.) - Condition following clinically relevant knee injury (e.g., anterior cruciate ligament ruptures, complex muscle lesions, collateral ligament ruptures) - Current or recent (= 6 months) injury or surgery of the lower extremity. - Intercurrent injury to the lower extremity during the study period that prevents safe participation in the YBT/sEMG - Known endocrine disorders (e.g., thyroid disorders, polycystic ovary syndrome) or pronounced cycle dysregulation - Pregnancy or breastfeeding - Lack of capacity to give consent
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Relative percentage change in composite Y-Balance Test performance (normalized to leg length). Assessed three times per participant, once during the early follicular phase, peri-ovulatory phase, and luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Using a standardized Y-Balance Test protocol (anterior, posteromedial, posterolateral reach directions); calculation of a composite score from the three directions, normalized to leg length. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The individual directional values of the Y-balance test (anterior, posteromedial, posterolateral) The limb symmetry index for assessing symmetry between the standing leg and the free leg Electromyographic parameters during the YBT, such as RMS amplitudes, onset times, and coactivation indices of the muscle groups examined Changes in a.p. joint translation (in mm) measured with the joint aximeter Changes in tissue stiffness (m/s) of the vastus medialis muscle and patellar tendon using shear wave elastography Subjective assessments of knee joint function and performance perception using the Lysholm Score, the IKDC questionnaire, and the Tegner Activity Scale Exploratory correlations of continuously measured hormone metabolites (E2, P4, LH, FSH, vitamin D) with functional and neuromuscular parameters | — |
Countries
Germany
Contacts
Public ContactErik Wegner
Universitätsmedizin Mainz
Outcome results
None listed