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NCT Number: NCT05344001

Life After Sport: Prior Injury and Sedentary Behavior as Mechanisms of Later Poor Health

Competitive sport increases risk for musculoskeletal injury (e.g., traumatic knee injury) and may position former athletes for early onset of chronic diseases, chronic pain, poor health-related quality of life, and disability. Quantifying function in former athletes with and without a prior injury and non-athlete controls is critical to understanding long-term health trajectories in athletes and informing potential interventional studies. One modifiable factor that may be associated with long-term health in athletes is physical activity patterns. The purpose of this study is to evaluate strength, function, physical activity, dietary patterns, and cardiometabolic health among current and former competitive athletes and in nonathlete controls to evaluate the impact of prior knee injury and sedentary behavior as two potential determinants of later poor health and reduced function.

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Key information

Conditions

Aging Athletic Injuries Behavior Disease Knee Injuries Knee Injuries and Disorders Leg Injuries Motor Activity Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Physical Inactivity Sedentary Behavior Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year–64 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Marquette University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53233, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Jacob J. Capin, PhD, DPT, MS

CONTACT

[email protected]

4142887865

About this study

The overarching hypothesis is that former athletes, especially those with a prior injury, will have poorer function and health in midlife and that current and former athletes will engage in greater overall and longer bouts of sedentary behavior compared to non-athletes.

Aim 1 will compare function, strength, and cardiometabolic indicators among former athletes with and without prior knee injury and non-athlete controls in midlife (age 40-64). Hypothesis 1 is that former athletes with a prior injury will have the poorest function, muscle strength, and cardiometabolic indicators.

Aim 2 will compare sedentary behavior and physical activity patterns in current (age 18-25) and midlife former athletes to non-athlete controls. Hypothesis 2.1 is that current athletes will have greater sedentary behavior, longer sedentary behavior bouts, and higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity compared to non-athlete controls. Hypothesis 2.2 is that former athletes in midlife will have greater sedentary behavior, longer sedentary behavior bouts, and lower physical activity levels compared to non-athlete controls.

An exploratory aim will evaluate longitudinally the trajectory of physical activity patterns, cardiometabolic indicators, function, and strength annually in each cohort, comparing how these variables change over time in each subgroup.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Please see cohorts for specific inclusion/exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18-25 years OR age 40-64 years
  • Current or former collegiate varsity athlete OR non-athlete control

Exclusion criteria

  • Neurologic (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's) and/or degenerative disease that impairs function
  • Pregnancy
  • Lower extremity joint replacement (e.g., hip or knee replacement)

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. 30-Second Chair Stand Test (primary outcome for Aim 1)

    Time frame: Baseline

    Physical function (functional performance) will be evaluated using the 30-Second Chair Stand Test, 6-Minute Walk Test, and Stair Climb Test. The 30-Second Chair Stand Test uses a standard height chair and requires the participant to stand up and sit down as many times as possible in 30 seconds. More completions indicate better physical function.

  2. Sedentary Behavior (primary outcome for Aim 2)

    Time frame: Baseline

    Physical activity will be monitored continuously using an accelerometer worn for 2 weeks. Physical activity will be classified throughout the day as sedentary, light, moderate, or vigorous using established algorithms. The primary outcome for aim 2 is the mean percentage of waking hours in sedentary behavior.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Strength

    Time frame: Baseline

    Isometric quadriceps and hamstring strength will be assessed using a standardized strength testing machine (i.e., electromechanical dynamometer).

  2. Body Composition

    Time frame: Baseline

    Body composition (i.e., percent body fat) will be assessed via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

  3. Step Counts

    Time frame: Baseline

    Average daily step counts will also be recorded using an objective physical activity monitor.

  4. Cardiovascular Disease Risk

    Time frame: Baseline

    The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Estimator will be used in the midlife participants to estimate 10-year cardiovascular disease risk.

  5. 6-Minute Walk Test

    Time frame: Baseline

    The 6-Minute Walk Test evaluates the distance participants can walk in 6 minutes and is a widely used indicator of function and aerobic capacity. The 6-minute walk test will be evaluated in the midlife participants only.

  6. Stair Climb Test

    Time frame: Baseline

    The Stair Climb Test assesses the time it takes the participant to ascend and descend a flight of stairs. Faster times on the Stair Climb Test are associated with better strength and function. The Stair Climb Test will be evaluated in the midlife participants only.

  7. Sedentary Behavior (follow-up)

    Time frame: Follow-up (an average of 1 year post-baseline)

    Physical activity will be monitored continuously using an accelerometer worn for 2 weeks. Physical activity will be classified throughout the day as sedentary, light, moderate, or vigorous using established algorithms. Mean percentage of waking hours in sedentary behavior and each physical activity classification will be assessed.

  8. 30-Second Chair Stand Test (follow-up)

    Time frame: Follow-up (an average of 1 year post-baseline)

    The 30-Second Chair Stand Test uses a standard height chair and requires the participant to stand up and sit down as many times as possible in 30 seconds. More completions indicate better physical function.

  9. Strength (follow-up)

    Time frame: Follow-up (an average of 1 year post-baseline)

    Isometric quadriceps and hamstring strength will be assessed using a standardized strength testing machine (i.e., electromechanical dynamometer).

  10. Body Composition (follow-up)

    Time frame: Follow-up (an average of 1 year post-baseline)

    Body composition (i.e., percent body fat) will be assessed via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

  11. Step Counts (Follow-up)

    Time frame: Follow-up (an average of 1 year post-baseline)

    Average daily step counts will also be recorded using an objective physical activity monitor.

  12. 6-Minute Walk Test (follow-up)

    Time frame: Follow-up (an average of 1 year post-baseline)

    The 6-Minute Walk Test evaluates the distance participants can walk in 6 minutes and is a widely used indicator of function and aerobic capacity. The 6-minute walk test will be evaluated in the midlife participants only.

  13. Stair Climb Test (follow-up)

    Time frame: Follow-up (an average of 1 year post-baseline)

    The Stair Climb Test assesses the time it takes the participant to ascend and descend a flight of stairs. Faster times on the Stair Climb Test are associated with better strength and function. The Stair Climb Test will be evaluated in the midlife participants only.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Jacob J. Capin, DPT, PhD, MS

CONTACT

[email protected]

414-288-7865

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Marquette University

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Apr 25, 2022
Registry last updated
Feb 25, 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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