Flywheel Training Effects on Power and Performance in Youth Olympic Weightlifters

NCT07623499 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: DU-FLY-2026
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 18
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study investigated the effects of flywheel inertial training on lower-limb power, trunk stability, and Olympic weightlifting performance in youth athletes. Eighteen youth Olympic weightlifters were allocated to a flywheel training group or a control group. Both groups continued their regular weightlifting training over a 10-week intervention period. The experimental group performed additional flywheel-based exercises twice weekly. Outcomes included measures of lower-limb power, trunk inclination during lifting, weightlifting performance, and technical error frequency.

Conditions

Sports Performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Snatch Performance

  Snatch performance was assessed as the best successful snatch lift completed by each participant according to technical criteria. The unit of measurement was kilograms (kg). The outcome was analyzed as the change in kilograms from baseline to 10 weeks.

  Baseline and 10 weeks post-intervention

• Clean Lift Performance

  Clean lift performance was assessed as the best successful clean lift completed by each participant without performing the jerk phase. The unit of measurement was kilograms (kg). The outcome was analyzed as the change in kilograms from baseline to 10 weeks.

  Baseline and 10 weeks post-intervention

• Countermovement Jump Height

  Countermovement jump height was measured to assess lower-limb explosive power. The unit of measurement was centimeters (cm). The outcome was analyzed as the change in centimeters from baseline to 10 weeks.

  Baseline and 10 weeks post-intervention

• Trunk Inclination Angle During Snatch Receiving Position

  Trunk inclination angle was measured during the lowest stable snatch receiving position using video-based kinematic analysis. The angle was measured from the vertical reference line passing through the hip joint. The unit of measurement was degrees (°). The outcome was analyzed as the change in degrees from baseline to 10 weeks. A lower angle indicates a more upright trunk position.

  Baseline and 10 weeks post-intervention

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Squat Jump Height

  Baseline and 10 weeks post-intervention

• Standing Long Jump Distance

  Baseline and 10 weeks post-intervention

• Trunk Inclination Angle During Clean Receiving Position

  Baseline and 10 weeks post-intervention

• Total Weightlifting Performance

  Baseline and 10 weeks post-intervention

• Technical Error Frequency During Snatch and Clean Attempts

  Baseline and 10 weeks post-intervention

Study Arms (2)

Flywheel Inertial Training Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group performed their regular Olympic weightlifting training program combined with additional flywheel inertial training twice per week for 10 weeks. The flywheel training included lower-limb and trunk exercises such as squats, split squats, Romanian deadlifts, pulling variations, and anti-rotation core exercises. The training was progressively structured to ensure appropriate eccentric overload and technical control.

Behavioral: Flywheel Inertial Training; Behavioral: Traditional Weightlifting Training

Control Group (Traditional Weightlifting Training)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group continued their regular Olympic weightlifting training program only, which included snatch and clean technique practice, strength exercises, pulling derivatives, squats, mobility work, and general physical preparation, without any additional flywheel training.

Behavioral: Traditional Weightlifting Training

Interventions

Flywheel Inertial Training BEHAVIORAL

Flywheel inertial training was performed twice weekly for 10 weeks in addition to regular Olympic weightlifting training. The program included lower-limb and trunk exercises such as squats, split squats, Romanian deadlifts, pulling variations, and core stabilization exercises. The training emphasized eccentric overload and progressive resistance to enhance power production and movement control.

Also known as: Flywheel resistance training; eccentric overload training

Flywheel Inertial Training Group

Traditional Weightlifting Training BEHAVIORAL

Participants performed conventional Olympic weightlifting training including snatch and clean and jerk technique practice, squats, pulling exercises, strength exercises, mobility exercises, and general physical preparation according to the regular training program.

Control Group (Traditional Weightlifting Training); Flywheel Inertial Training Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 13 Years - 17 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Male youth Olympic weightlifters aged 13-17 years
• Actively participating in structured Olympic weightlifting training
• Technical ability to perform snatch and clean lifts
• Free from musculoskeletal injury at the time of participation
• Medically fit for resistance training and high-intensity exercise

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of injury limiting participation in training or testing
• Absence rate greater than 20% of training or intervention sessions
• Participation in additional structured lower-limb eccentric or flywheel training outside the study program
• Any medical condition contraindicating resistance training

Sponsors & Collaborators

• New Damietta University Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Damietta University, Faculty of Sports Science

Damietta, 34517, Egypt

Location

Study Officials

• Ahmed Hassan, PhD

  Faculty of Sports Science, Damietta University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor of Weightlifting, Department of Sports Training, Faculty of Sports Science, Damietta University

Model Details: Participants were allocated into two parallel groups: a flywheel inertial training group and a control group continuing regular weightlifting training.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 22, 2026
• First Posted: June 3, 2026
• Study Start: December 20, 2025
• Primary Completion: February 27, 2026
• Study Completion: February 27, 2026
• Last Updated: June 3, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: Data will become available after publication of the primary results and will remain accessible for a period of 5 years following publication.
• Access Criteria: Access to the de-identified dataset will be granted upon reasonable request to the principal investigator. Requests must include a brief research proposal and will be evaluated for scientific merit and ethical compliance.

Locations

EG (1)