Relationship Between Vertical Jump, Balance, Muscle Strength, Flexibility, and Foot Posture in Artistic Gymnasts

NCT07169812 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: ICU2025-06
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 25
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Artistic gymnastics is a highly demanding and technically complex sport that requires strength, flexibility, agility, balance, and coordination (Nassib et al., 2020). Gymnasts perform a series of dynamic movements, such as flips, turns, and somersaults, which require explosive muscular power and precise control (Potop et al., 2014). In this sport, jumping ability, balance, muscle strength, and flexibility are fundamental physical parameters that directly influence both movement quality and injury risk. Among these, jumping ability plays a particularly critical role by facilitating take-offs and aerial maneuvers, enabling gymnasts to generate the necessary height and momentum to perform complex routines effectively. Moreover, gymnasts with greater jump capacity are able to absorb landings more efficiently, thereby reducing injury risk and maintaining consistent performance throughout their routines (Feng et al., 2024; Geiblinger et al., 2025). Another essential parameter is balance-particularly dynamic balance, which can be defined as the body's ability to perceive and respond to postural changes that occur during motor activities. This involves maintaining the center of mass within the base of support, requiring a high level of neuromuscular activation. Dynamic balance is vital not only in sports but also in daily life activities such as walking, stair climbing, running, and sit-to-stand transitions. Its role in preventing injuries and enhancing athletic performance has been well established (Paillard, 2019; Dana et al., 2021). The Y-Balance Test (YBT), which measures dynamic balance in three directions-anterior (ANT), posterolateral (PL), and posteromedial (PM)-is commonly used in clinical and athletic settings. In clinical practice, a difference of less than 4 cm between limbs in each direction is considered normative. Lehr et al. (2013) reported in a study conducted among collegiate athletes that average YBT performance could serve as a predictor of future lower extremity injuries. From a biomechanical perspective, the foot represents the distal segment of the lower extremity kinetic chain. Any morphological changes or alterations in the weight-bearing alignment of the foot can influence balance control. Considering the critical role of the foot in stabilizing and modulating the kinetic chain, accurately assessing foot posture is essential. Postural characteristics such as high or low arches may impact balance capacity, jump performance, and the ability to attenuate forces during landing (Seyedahmadi et al., 2024). In light of this evidence, the primary aim of the present study is to examine the relationships between vertical jump performance, balance, muscle strength, flexibility, and foot posture in artistic gymnasts. Investigating these parameters comprehensively is expected to provide valuable insights from both scientific and clinical perspectives. Specifically, the study seeks to: Determine the relationship between vertical jump performance and lower extremity muscle strength, flexibility, and balance. Analyze the potential associations between foot posture and vertical jump, balance, and muscle strength. By addressing these objectives, the study aims to contribute to both guiding the design of training programs and reducing the risk of injury among gymnasts, thereby offering meaningful clinical implications. This is an observational, cross-sectional study. Participants will continue their regular gymnastics training routines without any intervention assigned by the investigators. Data collection will consist solely of measurements (vertical jump, balance, muscle strength, flexibility, and foot posture). No exercise program, treatment, or intervention will be applied as part of the study.

Conditions

Vertical Jump; Dynamic Balance; Flexibility; Foot Posture Index Score; Muscle Strength

Keywords

dynamic balance; flexibility; foot posture index; muscle strength; vertical jump

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Vertical Jump

  The active vertical jump performance of participants will be evaluated using the My Jump Lab (MJL) mobile application. My Jump Lab is a practical and portable tool with established validity and reliability. In a validity-reliability study conducted by Balsalobre-Fernández et al. (2024), Cronbach's α was reported to be greater than 0.93. Similarly, Şentürk et al. (2024) compared the application with a force platform and demonstrated an almost perfect correlation between the two methods (r = 0.968, p = 0.001), confirming that MJL is a valid and reliable instrument for real-time assessment of jump performance and active jump height. Each participant will complete three practice trials at their perceived maximum effort prior to testing. The MJL application will be used on an iPhone 14 (Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA, USA). To record active jump height, the iPhone will be mounted on a tripod positioned to capture the participant's sagittal plane. Participants will be instructed to place their h

  Baseline

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Dynamic Balance

  Baseline

• Muscle Strength

  Baseline

• Foot Posture

  Baseline

Other Outcomes (1)

• Flexibility

  Baseline

Study Arms (1)

Group 1

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 7 Years - 12 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will include healthy child athletes aged 7-12 years who have been actively participating in artistic gymnastics training for 1-2 years at gymnastics clubs.

You may qualify if:

• Participation in artistic gymnastics for 1-2 years
• Age between 7 and 12 years

You may not qualify if:

• History of lower extremity orthopedic injury within the past 6 months
• Presence of any pain at the time of assessment
• History of neurological, developmental, or systemic disease that may affect balance
• Uncorrectable visual impairments
• Obesity or any neurological or musculoskeletal abnormality that could affect postural stability
• Voluntary withdrawal from the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa: lead
• Istanbul Galata University: collaborator

Central Study Contacts

Gulenay Yildirim, Master of Science

CONTACT

+90 538 289 4856; gulenayyildirim0@gmail.com

Yildiz Analay Akbaba, PhD

CONTACT

yildizanalay@iuc.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD Student

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 3, 2025
• First Posted: September 12, 2025
• Study Start: September 20, 2025
• Primary Completion: September 22, 2025
• Study Completion: October 15, 2025
• Last Updated: September 12, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share