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Enrolling by Invitation

NCT Number: NCT07260318

Acute Effects of Cricket Fast Bowling on Bone Turnover and Signaling Markers

The goal of this study is to investigate the acute effects of cricket fast bowling on the bone turnover and signaling markers in healthy young males.

The main question aims to answer:

• Does a single bout acute fast bowling change serum C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) and other bone turnover and signaling markers levels?

Participants complete both the bowling and control trials, with a minimum washout period of one week between trials. During each trial, blood samples are collected at three time points: pre-, immediately post, and 2-hour post bowling/rest.

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Key information

Conditions

Health Adults

Age range

18 year–30 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Loughborough Univeristy

Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, United Kingdom

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Healthy male
  • Aged 18 - 30
  • Cricket fast bowlers (a ball speed of ~100kmh) playing for a university team or above, such as British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) or University Centre of Cricketing Excellence (UCCE)
  • Injury free for the last 3 months

Exclusion criteria

  • Diagnosed with any disease or use of any medication that affects bone turnover
  • Fracture experienced within the previous year/season

Treatment and study plan

Exercise

Behavioral

During the bowling trial, participants perform 8 sets of 6 deliveries (bowl at match intensity throughout), followed by 2-hour rest. Each set is interspersed by a 3-minute randomized fielding simulation. During the control trial, participants rest throughout instead of bowling.

Primary outcomes

  1. Serum C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) concentration

    Time frame: Blood samples are collected at baseline, immediately after the bowling or the corresponding rest period, and 2 hours after the second blood sample collection.

    Serum CTX-I concentration is measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) and reported in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Serum N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (PINP) concentration

    Time frame: Blood samples are collected at baseline, immediately after the bowling or the corresponding rest period, and 2 hours after the second blood sample collection.

    Serum PINP concentration is measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) and reported in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL).

  2. Serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentration

    Time frame: Blood samples are collected at baseline, immediately after the bowling or the corresponding rest period, and 2 hours after the second blood sample collection.

    Serum PTH concentration is measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) and reported in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL).

  3. Serum sclerostin concentration

    Time frame: Blood samples are collected at baseline, immediately after the bowling or the corresponding rest period, and 2 hours after the second blood sample collection.

    Serum sclerostin concentration is measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reported in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL).

  4. Serum dickkopf Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor 1 (DKK1) concentration

    Time frame: Blood samples are collected at baseline, immediately after the bowling or the corresponding rest period, and 2 hours after the second blood sample collection.

    Serum DKK1 concentration is measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reported in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL).

  5. Serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) concentration

    Time frame: Blood samples are collected at baseline, immediately after the bowling or the corresponding rest period, and 2 hours after the second blood sample collection.

    Serum OPG concentration is measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reported in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL).

  6. Serum irisin concentration

    Time frame: Blood samples are collected at baseline, immediately after the bowling or the corresponding rest period, and 2 hours after the second blood sample collection.

    Serum irisin concentration is measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reported in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL).

  7. Bowling speed

    Time frame: Bowling speed is measured during the bowling trial.

    Bowling speed is measured using a radar gun during the 8 overs of bowling and reported in miles per hour (MPH).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Loughborough University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Dec 3, 2025
Registry last updated
Dec 3, 2025

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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