An interventional study of Experimental: Criteria based and Active comparator: Time based rehabilitation in Hamstring Muscle Strain, sponsored by Riphah International University. Recruiting at 2 sites in Pakistan. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 35 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-29.
Sponsored by Riphah International University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
This randomized controlled trial compares criteria-based rehabilitation (CBR) with time-based rehabilitation (TBR) for football players aged 18-35 with ACL reconstruction, hamstring strain, or ankle sprain. Both groups receive a six-week supervised rehabilitation program; the progression rules differ between groups.
Eligible football players will be recruited from local football clubs and academies in Islamabad Capital Territory and Rawalpindi. Written informed consent will be obtained. Participants will be randomly allocated 1:1 using a concealed, computer-generated sequence. Baseline demographic, functional, and psychological measures will be collected. Both groups follow the same general phase-based rehabilitation structure under licensed physiotherapist supervision. CBR progression depends on objective functional and psychological milestones; TBR progression follows fixed time intervals and return-to-play clearance at week 6 irrespective of milestones. Progression is paused or regressed if pain is ≥4/10 on VAS or swelling returns.
350 studies on the registry are indexed under Ankle Injuries; 74 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 52 is close to the median of 54 across 270 interventional studies indexed under Ankle Injuries.
Browse Ankle Injuries studies →Riphah International University is the lead sponsor of 2,193 studies on the registry; 650 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Participants in this group will undergo a 6-week criteria-based rehabilitation program,consisting of 3-5 supervised sessions per week, each lasting 45-60 minutes. Exercise intensity will be progressively increased from low (40-50% of maximum effort) during early phases to high intensity (70-85%) in later stages, depending on individual performance and pain tolerance. Progression will depend on achieving specific functional and psychological benchmarks rather than elapsed time.
Other: Experimental: Criteria based
Participants in this group will follow a fixed 6-week time-based program with 3-5 sessions per week (45-60 minutes/session). Exercise intensity will progress automatically from low to high each week, regardless of functional test results.
Other: Active comparator: Time based rehabilitation
* Weeks 1-2: Focus on pain control, ROM restoration, and isometric strengthening (low intensity, 3-4 sets of 10-15 reps). * Weeks 2-4: Closed-chain and eccentric strengthening (moderate intensity, 3 sets of 12-15 reps), balance training, and jogging once LSI ≥ 80%. * Weeks 4-6: Plyometrics, agility, sprinting, and football-specific drills (high intensity, 4-5 sets, 80-85% effort). Participants will only progress or return to play upon meeting the criteria: hop test LSI ≥ 90%, SEBT symmetry, improved ACLRSI,
Weeks 1-2: Pain reduction and early strengthening (low intensity, 3 sets of 10-12 reps). * Weeks 2-4: General strengthening, proprioception, and jogging (moderate intensity, 3 sets of 12-15 reps). * Weeks 4-6: Plyometrics, agility, sprinting, and football-specific drills (high intensity, 70-85% effort) All participants will be cleared for return to play at the end of Week 6, regardless of whether they have achieved functional or psychological milestones, reflecting a traditional time-driven rehabilitation approach. This design reflects conventional rehabilitation models used in previous comparative studies, in which exercise progression and RTP clearance are determined by elapsed time rather than by functional recovery.
Hop battery test (single, triple, and crossover hop) including limb symmetry index (LSI)
A tool to assess lower-limb strength, power, symmetry and functional performance in athletes post-injury; demonstrates good test-retest reliability (ICC ≈ 0.85-0.97) and valid discriminatory ability, though its capacity to predict re-injury remains inconsistent. Depends on individual hop test; usually reported as distance. Higher distance generally indicates better performance
Time frame: At baseline, 0 weeks 6 weeks post-intervention
Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT)
Evaluates dynamic balance and postural control; high reliability (ICC 0.85-0.91) and validated in athletes. no fixed universal minimum/maximum; reach distance is recorded in cm and may be normalized to limb length as a percentage Higher reach distance/normalized score = better dynamic postural balance
Time frame: At Baseline After 6 weeks
Anterior Cruciate Ligament -RSI (Return to Sport after Injury Scale)
Measures psychological readiness and fear of re-injury; strong internal consistency (α = 0.94) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.90) 0-100 Higher score = greater psychological readiness to return to sport
Time frame: At baseline After 6 weeks of intervention
Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK)
Assesses fear of movement and re-injury; validated in musculoskeletal populations with good internal consistency (α = 0.810.87) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.84-0.90) 17-68 for the 17-item version Higher score = greater fear of movement/reinjury
Time frame: at baseline at 6 weeks post intervention
Landing Error Scoring System (LESS)
The LESS is a movement screen used to identify specific movement patterns of the lower extremities that may increase an individual's risk for noncontact ACL injury. 0-17 Lower score = better landing technique; higher score = more landing errors
Time frame: at baseline at 6 weeks post intervention
Reactive Strength Index (RSI)
Measures reactive strength and stretch-shortening cycle efficiency; demonstrates good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.87) in athletes. No fixed minimum/maximum; calculated as jump height ÷ ground contact time Higher value = better reactive strength/stretch-shortening-cycle performance
Time frame: at baseline 6 weeks post intervention
One-Repetition Maximum (1RM)
This tool is used to assess the strength of the athlete objectively. No universal fixed minimum/maximum; expressed as the maximum load lifted once, usually in kg Higher value = greater muscular strength
Time frame: at baseline 6 weeks post intervention
Y-Balance Test (YBT)
The Y Balance Test is a functional screening tool used to assess dynamic balance, core stability, and injury risk in athletes and patients Composite score: 0-100%; individual reach distances are also recorded Higher score = better dynamic balance
Time frame: at baseline 6 weeks post intervention
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Started Sep 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Dec 2026, 3 months after the start.
Of 138 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Ankle Injuries, half reached primary completion within 9 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 4 and three quarters within 30. This study's planned 3 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 141 studies reached it within 9 months; a quarter within 4 and three quarters within 31.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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