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Core Muscle ActivationNCT07877142

Core Muscle Activation With Pelvic Neutral Positioning in Division I Soccer Athletes

A study testing Pelvic Neutral Positioning in people with Core Muscle Activation, run by Dominican University New York at 1 site in United States.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to assess whether finding pelvic neutral before or during an isometric loaded task will influence the muscle recruitment pattern between local and global core musculature. The loaded tasks are a prone plank, side plank, and glute bridge. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 25 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Core Muscle Activation
What is being tested?
Pelvic Neutral Positioning
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
50 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
25 Aug 2026to Nov 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 25 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Healthy individuals
  • Ages 18-25 years old
  • Members of the St. John's University men's or women's Division I soccer teams in Queens, New York

Who cannot join

  • History of low back pain requiring any medical evaluation or physical therapy intervention within the past six months
  • Any prior lumbopelvic surgery
  • Current pain in the upper extremity, lower extremity, or spine that limits participants' ability to perform the required exercises
  • Onset or exacerbation of pain during the data collection process
  • Any known skin conditions or sensitivities to EMG sensors

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site

  • St. John's University

    Jamaica, New York, 11432

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: The Effect of Setting Pelvic Neutral on Core Muscle Activation Prior to Versus During Loaded Tasks of a Prone Plank, Side Plank, and Glute Bridge in Division I Soccer Athletes

The purpose of this study is to assess whether finding pelvic neutral before or during an isometric loaded task will influence the muscle recruitment pattern between local and global core musculature. The loaded tasks are a prone plank, side plank, and glute bridge. The local musculature being investigated are the internal oblique and multifidus, and the global musculature being investigated are the rectus abdominis and lateral erector spinae. Participants will complete maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) for the rectus abdominis and internal oblique along with lateral erector spinae and multifidus. Participants will view a standardized video demonstration of anterior pelvic tilt, posterior pelvic tilt, and neutral pelvic tilt positioning and will practice finding each position. Participants will complete a prone plank, right and left side plank, and glute bridge with pelvic neutral set prior to loading the exercise position and with pelvic neutral set after assuming the loaded exercise position. The exercise and condition order will be randomized, and muscle activity will be recorded using surface electromyography.

Read the detailed description

Prior to surface electromyography (EMG) sensor placement, the skin will be cleaned with alcohol and any necessary body hair will be shaved. EMG electrodes will be applied bilaterally to the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, multifidus, and lateral erector spinae using standardized placement. After sensor placements, MVCs will be performed for 15 seconds with 30 second rest periods. The rectus abdominis will be assessed with a partial sit-up with the knees flexed and manual resistance applied to the shoulders into trunk extension. The internal oblique will be assessed with a resisted supine trunk lift. The lateral erector spinae and multifidus will be assessed with prone trunk extension with manual resistance applied to the upper thoracic region. Participants will view a standardized video demonstration of anterior pelvic tilt, posterior pelvic tilt, and neutral pelvic tilt positioning. Participants will then practice finding anterior pelvic tilt, posterior pelvic tilt, and neutral pelvic tilt positions, performing each movement three times. After, participants will perform the exercises and conditions in a randomized order. Each exercise will be held isometrically for 20 seconds, followed by 30 seconds of rest between each trial. There is a total of 2 trials for each exercise.

Being tested
Pelvic Neutral Positioning
Keywords
Pelvic Neutral, Core Muscle Activation, Surface Electromyography, EMG, Prone Plank, Side Plank, Glute Bridge, Division I Soccer Athletes

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Pelvic Neutral PositioningOther

    Participants will set pelvic neutral prior to the exercise position and after assuming the loaded exercise position during a prone plank, right and left side plank, and glute bridge in a randomized order.

Study groups in NCT07877142
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Pelvic Neutral Exercise ConditionsExperimentalParticipants will perform a prone plank, right and left side plank, and glute bridge under two conditions: pelvic neutral set before initiating the exercise and pelvic neutral set during the exercise. The order of the exercises and conditions will be randomized. Each exercise will be held isometrically for 20 seconds with 30 seconds of rest between each exercise. Participants will perform 2 trials of each.
Receives: Other: Pelvic Neutral Positioning

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Core Muscle Activation

    Surface electromyography (EMG) will record muscle activation amplitude of the right and left rectus abdominis, internal oblique, multifidus, and lateral erector spinae during the prone plank, right and left side plank, and glute bridge under both pelvic neutral conditions.

    Measured: During a single testing session, with EMG measurements collected during each maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) assessment and both trials of each exercise under the two pelvic neutral conditions.

Secondary outcomes (1)

  1. Perceived Exertion Using the Modified OMNI-RES

    Participants will rate their overall muscular effort after each exercise and condition using the modified OMNI-Resistance Exercise Scale (OMNI-RES), scored from 0 to 10.

    Measured: During a single testing session, immediately following the second trial of each exercise under both pelvic neutral conditions.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted16 Oct 2026
  2. Study start25 Aug 2026
  3. Primary completionNov 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completionNov 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
50 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07877142
Sponsor's protocol ID
2026-0330-02
Status last verified
Oct 2026
First submitted
9 Oct 2026
Last updated
21 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Demographic information and outcome measures will be made publicly available as part of research publication. However, individual participant data will only be accessible to the research team conducting this study with participant ID numbers.

Publications

  • Yoon JO, Kang MH, Kim JS, Oh JS. Effect of modified bridge exercise on trunk muscle activity in healthy adults: a cross sectional study. Braz J Phys Ther. 2018 Mar-Apr;22(2):161-167. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2017.09.005. Epub 2017 Sep 9.

    PubMed 28943402

  • Stevens VK, Coorevits PL, Bouche KG, Mahieu NN, Vanderstraeten GG, Danneels LA. The influence of specific training on trunk muscle recruitment patterns in healthy subjects during stabilization exercises. Man Ther. 2007 Aug;12(3):271-9. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2006.07.009. Epub 2006 Sep 12.

    PubMed 16971159

  • Sahrmann S, Azevedo DC, Dillen LV. Diagnosis and treatment of movement system impairment syndromes. Braz J Phys Ther. 2017 Nov-Dec;21(6):391-399. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2017.08.001. Epub 2017 Sep 27.

    PubMed 29097026

  • Okubo Y, Kaneoka K, Imai A, Shiina I, Tatsumura M, Izumi S, Miyakawa S. Electromyographic analysis of transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus using wire electrodes during lumbar stabilization exercises. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2010 Nov;40(11):743-50. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2010.3192.

    PubMed 21041966

  • Morishita S, Tsubaki A, Takabayashi T, Fu JB. Relationship between the rating of perceived exertion scale and the load intensity of resistance training. Strength Cond J. 2018 Apr;40(2):94-109. doi: 10.1519/SSC.0000000000000373.

    PubMed 29674945

  • Luo S, Soh KG, Zhang L, Zhai X, Sunardi J, Gao Y, Sun H. Effect of core training on skill-related physical fitness performance among soccer players: A systematic review. Front Public Health. 2023 Jan 5;10:1046456. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1046456. eCollection 2022.

    PubMed 36684974

  • Kisner, C., Colby, L. A., & Borstad, J. (2018). Therapeutic Exercise: Foundations and Techniques (7th ed.). F. A. Davis Company, Cop.

  • Kang MH, Kim SY, Kang MJ, Yoon SH, Oh JS. Effects of isometric hip movements on electromyographic activities of the trunk muscles during plank exercises. J Phys Ther Sci. 2016 Aug;28(8):2373-5. doi: 10.1589/jpts.28.2373. Epub 2016 Aug 31.

    PubMed 27630435

  • Kanavi Hiremath, S., Santhosh D'souza, G., & Tagimaucia, V. (2025). Electromyographic analysis of core muscle activity during variations of abdominal exercises. Journal of Physical Education and Sport (JPES), 25(1), 175-185. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2025.01020

  • Hodges PW, Richardson CA. Feedforward contraction of transversus abdominis is not influenced by the direction of arm movement. Exp Brain Res. 1997 Apr;114(2):362-70. doi: 10.1007/pl00005644.

    PubMed 9166925

  • Gottlieb, R., Ibrahim, R., Shalom, A., & Calleja Gonzalez, J. (2025). The impact of core stability training on neuromuscular performance among young soccer players: A randomized interventional trial. Applied Sciences, 15(21), 11391. https://doi.org/10.3390/app152111391

  • Escamilla RF, Lewis C, Pecson A, Imamura R, Andrews JR. Muscle Activation Among Supine, Prone, and Side Position Exercises With and Without a Swiss Ball. Sports Health. 2016 Jul;8(4):372-9. doi: 10.1177/1941738116653931. Epub 2016 Jun 14.

    PubMed 27302152

  • Ekstrom RA, Donatelli RA, Carp KC. Electromyographic analysis of core trunk, hip, and thigh muscles during 9 rehabilitation exercises. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2007 Dec;37(12):754-62. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2007.2471. Epub 2007 Aug 29.

    PubMed 18560185

  • De Luca, C. J. (1997). The use of surface electromyography in biomechanics. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 13(2), 135-163.

  • Choi CW, Koo JW, Jeong YG. An electromyographical comparison of torso muscle activity and ratio during modified side bridge exercises. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2023;36(6):1355-1363. doi: 10.3233/BMR-220380.

    PubMed 37458024

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Pelvic Neutral Positioning in people with Core Muscle Activation, run by Dominican University New York at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Core Muscle Activation (time frame: During a single testing session, with EMG measurements collected during each maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) assessment and both trials of each exercise under the two pelvic neutral conditions.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07877142, which also lists 18 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Oct 2026.

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