Adolescent Elite Athletes: Trunk Mobility, Lower Extremity Flexibility, and Functional Balance Across Sports

This cross-sectional observational study compared trunk mobility, hamstring flexibility, and dynamic functional balance performance among elite male adolescent athletes aged 15-17 years from different sports branches, including wrestling, sprint athletics, canoe/kayak, and taekwondo. All assessments were conducted during a single baseline evaluation session using standardized, non-invasive clinical measurement tools. Trunk mobility was assessed using a digital inclinometer, hamstring flexibility was evaluated with the passive Straight Leg Raise test using a goniometer, and dynamic functional balance was measured using the Y-Balance Test composite score on the dominant lower extremity. The findings of this study provide sport-specific reference data and contribute to the identification of biomechanical characteristics related to mobility, flexibility, and balance in elite adolescent athletes across different sports disciplines.

Eligibility Criteria Inclusion Criteria: * Male adolescent athletes aged 15-17 years * Licensed and actively training and competing in their respective sports branch * Minimum of 3 years of continuous training experience * Ability to complete all clinical and biomechanical assessments * Written informed consent obtained from the participant and a parent or legal guardian Exclusion Criteria: * Acute musculoskeletal injury within the past 3 months * Chronic lower extremity or spinal pathology * History of orthopedic surgery within the past 6 months * Neurological, metabolic, or systemic condition affecting movement or balance * Inability to comply with the testing protocol or incomplete assessment data