Effects of Thoracic Spine Exercises on Spinal Alignment and Mobility in Male Soccer Players

NCT07253415 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: IKCU-FTR-KB-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 42
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Thoracic spine mobility is essential for trunk stability, rotational movement, and athletic performance in soccer players. This study aimed to investigate the effects of adding thoracic spine exercises to routine soccer training on spinal alignment, segmental mobility, and thoracic rotation in professional male players.

Conditions

Spinal Mobility; Thoracic Spine

Keywords

exercise; thoracic spine; sports; soccer

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Spinal Alignment and Mobility Evaluation

  Spinal alignment and mobility of the players were assessed using the Valedo®Shape device (Idiag, Fehraltorf, Switzerland). This device evaluates posture and mobility of the thoracic (T1-T2 to T11-T12) and lumbar (T12-L1 to the sacrum) spine in the sagittal and frontal planes. The Valedo®Shape is a non-invasive, computer-assisted measurement system that provides valid and reliable results comparable to radiographic analysis and does not involve radiation exposure. The spinous processes of the spine were marked as anatomical reference points. The Valedo®Shape device was then moved downward by the assessor along all spinous processes, beginning from the C7 vertebra to approximately the S3 level. For the sagittal plane evaluation, measurements were obtained in three positions: neutral posture, maximum flexion, and maximum extension. For the frontal plane evaluation, measurements were taken in the neutral posture as well as during right and left lateral flexion.

  six weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Evaluation of Thoracic Rotation

  six weeks

Study Arms (2)

Exercise Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Players in the exercise group performed thoracic spine exercises in addition to their routine soccer training, three days a week for six weeks, with each session lasting approximately 30-40 minutes. The exercise program comprised six exercises targeting mobility, strength, motor control, and stability of the thoracic region, including thoracic spine extension exercise with foam roller and thoracic extension flexibility exercise, thoracic spine rotation exercise and thoracic rotation exercise in quadrupedal position, open book exercise, and bird-dog exercise. Exercise progression was achieved by systematically increasing repetitions and sets according to the principle of gradual overload and by advancing resistance levels over time.

Other: Thoracic spine exercise

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

The control group received no intervention and continued their routine training without additional exercises

Interventions

Thoracic spine exercise OTHER

Following baseline evaluations, players in the exercise group performed thoracic spine exercises in addition to their routine soccer training, three days a week for six weeks, with each session lasting approximately 30-40 minutes. All players also regularly participated in the routine training program planned by the club technical team, implemented 5 to 6 days a week and lasting approximately 90-120 minutes per session. The exercise program comprised six exercises targeting mobility, strength, motor control, and stability of the thoracic region, including thoracic spine extension exercise with foam roller and thoracic extension flexibility exercise, thoracic spine rotation exercise and thoracic rotation exercise in quadrupedal position, open book exercise, and bird-dog exercise. Exercise progression was achieved by systematically increasing repetitions and sets according to the principle of gradual overload and by advancing resistance levels over time.

Exercise Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Individuals who voluntarily agree to participate in the study
• Individuals who regularly attend team training sessions within their club

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals who have experienced any sports-related injury within the past 3 months.
• Individuals with conditions that may negatively affect balance or coordination.
• Individuals with musculoskeletal deformities affecting the upper or lower extremities.
• Individuals participating in training programs outside of regular team practices.
• Individuals with a history of spinal surgery, spinal root compression, thoracic pain or tenderness, spinal cord tumors, or spinal trauma.
• Individuals who have experienced trauma to the spinal region within the past 6 months.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Izmir Katip Celebi University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Altınordu Football Club - Metin Oktay Training Facilities

Izmir, Torbalı, 35860, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Kazım Bayram, Ph.D

  Izmir University of Economics

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The assessor who conducted the outcome measurements was blinded to group allocation. Additionally, all statistical analyses were performed by a biostatistician who was blinded to the study aims.
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Lecturer, PhD

Model Details: The exercise group performed the thoracic spine exercise program in addition to their routine soccer training, while the control group received no intervention and continued their routine training without additional exercises

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 19, 2025
• First Posted: November 28, 2025
• Study Start: April 25, 2024
• Primary Completion: June 3, 2024
• Study Completion: August 2, 2024
• Last Updated: December 3, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)