Do male and female footballers need different strength benchmarks?
NCT ID NCT07810387
First seen Sep 09, 2026 · Last updated Sep 10, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Researchers measure how the knee extensor and flexor muscles generate force at different speeds in male and female competitive football players. Most reference data for this kind of testing comes from male players, and it is unclear whether female players need separate benchmarks. Participants complete a single session of knee strength testing on a dynamometer. The study compares the two groups in absolute terms and after adjusting for body size.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If researchers find that body size explains most differences, reference values from male players could apply to female players. If differences persist, clinicians may need separate benchmarks for each sex.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, single-centre study of 37 competitive players, so its findings may not generalise to other sports, age groups, or training levels. It measures muscle mechanics in a lab and does not track injuries or performance over time.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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37 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2025
- Finished
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Aug 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
male and female football players, Players were recruited from regional football clubs competing at national level
- Ages
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18 to 35 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * male or female football players aged 18-35 years; * participation in competitive football for at least three consecutive years; * a minimum of three weekly training sessions; * no current pain or injury of the lower limbs; * no history of knee or hip surgery; * ability to perform maximal voluntary contractions during isokinetic testing; * an adequate physical activity level (Tegner ≥ 7; Marx ≥ 12). Exclusion Criteria: * any medical condition limiting the test or any injury/surgery of the lower limb from the last 2 years
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Orthosport Center
Domont, 95330, France
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