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

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Genu Varum Bone Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases

Age range

13 year–19 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Akdeniz University

Antalya, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

were: (1) having at least five years of football experience, (2) participating in football training at least five days per week, and (3) voluntary participation in the study.

Exclusion criteria

included a history of lower extremity surgery, current musculoskeletal injury affecting performance.

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Change-of-direction performance

Time frame: at basline

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.
Reactive agility performance

Time frame: at basline

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.

Secondary outcomes

Intercondylar distance and intermalleolar distance

Time frame: at basline

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.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Akdeniz University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Does Genu Varum Influence Change of Direction and Reactive Agility Performance in Youth Football Players?

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2025
First posted: Sep 1, 2026
Registry last updated: Sep 1, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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Completed