An observational study in Healthy, sponsored by Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Recruiting at 1 site in Belgium. Open to participants aged 20 Years to 50 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-02-05.
Sponsored by Vrije Universiteit Brussel · Observational
Distance running is one of the most popular and most accessible ways to engage in physical activity. Although distance running offers numerous health-related benefits and protects against noncommunicable diseases (e.g., type 2 diabetic, obesity, hypertension), research has indicated a high prevalence of running-related injuries with a more pronounced incidence among novice runners (i.e., 17.8 injuries per 1000h) compared to their highly trained peers (i.e., 7.2 injuries per 1000h).
Interlimb asymmetry has previously been related to higher injury risk as well as to impaired sports performances. Nevertheless, to date, research on the degree and evolution of functional asymmetry (e.g., unequal strength between limbs) in distance runners is scarce and the role of functional asymmetries in running performance and running-related injuries remains unclear. Moreover, and despite the great number of unilateral tests available in the literature, there currently exists no reliable and run-specific field-based test battery to examine the degree of lower limb asymmetry in distance runners. Therefore, this study aims to assess the test-retest, intra- and inter-rater reliability of a newly created running-specific field-based test battery to assess the presence and degree of functional lower limb asymmetry among novice, moderatly and highly trained distance runners as well as a control group of non-athletes. The second objective is to assess the association between inter-limb asymmetry and running performance.
Vrije Universiteit Brussel is the lead sponsor of 154 studies on the registry; 43 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Healthy population (see eligibility criteria)
Being aged between 20 and 50 years at Tfamiliarization
Highly trained distance runners:
Moderately-trained runners:
Running between 40 - 150 km per month for at least 6 months
Running not more than 10km per week for the past 12 months
Exclusion Criteria:
Being younger than 20 years or older than 50 years at Tfamiliarization
This study is an observational study and not an interventional study.
This study is an observational study and not an interventional study.
This study is an observational study and not an interventional study.
This study is an observational study and not an interventional stud
Lean mass
Measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
Time frame: Baseline
Fat mass
Measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
Time frame: Baseline
Bone mineral density
Measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
Time frame: Baseline
Phase angle
Measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Time frame: Baseline
Lean mass
Measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Time frame: Baseline
Fat mass
Measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Time frame: Baseline
Total segmental water
Measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Time frame: Baseline
Extracellular water
Measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Time frame: Baseline
5 repeated vertical hop test.
Measured using an Optojump device
Time frame: 3 test occasions: baseline, 2 weeks after baseline and 4 weeks after baseline.
5 repeated horizontal hop test
Measured using an Optojump device
Time frame: 3 test occasions: baseline, 2 weeks after baseline and 4 weeks after baseline.
ankle dorsiflexion range of motion
The maximal dorsiflexion range of motion (cm from a wall) will be measured with tape measure.
Time frame: 3 test occasions: baseline, 2 weeks after baseline and 4 weeks after baseline.
Side bridge endurance test
The side bridge endurance test will be carried out in which, the participants will lie on one side of the body fully extended (i.e., hip and torso at 0°) in a plank position with the feet elevated on a 15-cm step and with the superior feet placed in front. The participants will be instructed to lift the hips until the body is in straight position with the arms folded across the chest. The time until a drop (lasting more than 3s) of the hips from the optimal position will manually be recorded. To control for a full range of motion upon the execution of this muscle capacity tests, a reference dowel will be used to indiciate the desired range of motion.
Time frame: 3 test occasions: baseline, 2 weeks after baseline and 4 weeks after baseline.
Hip adduction strength
Measured with a handheld dynamometer.
Time frame: 3 test occasions: baseline, 2 weeks after baseline and 4 weeks after baseline.
Hip abduction strength
Measured using a hand-held dynamometer.
Time frame: 3 test occasions: baseline, 2 weeks after baseline and 4 weeks after baseline.
Knee extension strength
Measured using a hand-held dynamometer.
Time frame: 3 test occasions: baseline, 2 weeks after baseline and 4 weeks after baseline.
Knee flexion strength
Measured using a hand-held dynamometer.
Time frame: 3 test occasions: baseline, 2 weeks after baseline and 4 weeks after baseline.
Ankle dorsiflexion strength
Measured using a hand-held dynamometer.
Time frame: 3 test occasions: baseline, 2 weeks after baseline and 4 weeks after baseline.
Ankle plantar flexion strength
Measured using a hand-held dynamometer.
Time frame: 3 test occasions: baseline, 2 weeks after baseline and 4 weeks after baseline.
Cooper test
Maximal distance covered in 12 minutes.
Time frame: This test will be carried out on the second test occasion (two weeks after baseline).
Training volume
Surveyed with an online questionnaire and quantified in hours/week (per sport performed).
Time frame: Baseline
Contact time while running
Measures with an Optojump device
Time frame: This test will be carried out on the third test occasion (four weeks after baseline).
Flight time while running
Measured using an Optojump device.
Time frame: This test will be carried out on the third test occasion (four weeks after baseline).
Stride length
Measured using an Optojump device.
Time frame: This test will be carried out on the third test occasion (four weeks after baseline).
Weight
Time frame: Baseline
Height
Time frame: Baseline
Leg length
Measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and a tape measure.
Time frame: Baseline
Bone mineral content
Measured busing dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
Time frame: Baseline
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Vrije Universiteit Brussel