The Effects of Comprehensive and Localized Corrective Exercises on Knee Valgus and Gluteal Muscle Strength and Endurance in Women with Gluteal Muscle Dysfunction

To determine the effects of comprehensive and local corrective exercises on knee valgus and gluteal muscle strength and endurance in women with gluteal muscle dysfunction

A randomized controlled trial with three parallel groups (local corrective exercise, comprehensive corrective exercise, and control), double-blind in outcome assessment, simple randomization with 45 women; random sequence generated using the Random function in Excel and group allocation after screening for inclusion criteria.

The study will be conducted on women with gluteal muscle dysfunction at “Zarban” gym in Gorgan. Participants will be assigned to three parallel groups (local corrective exercise, comprehensive corrective exercise, and control). Exercises will be performed for 12 weeks under the researcher’s supervision. Assessors and the data analyst will be blinded.

Inclusion criteria: gluteal muscle dysfunction; age 18–50; female; physically inactive and no regular exercise in the past 6 months; no medical contraindication for exercise Exclusion criteria: history of injury or surgery in the lumbopelvic or lower limb region; progressive neuromuscular disease; severe joint disorder; disc herniation or spondylolisthesis; use of assistive walking devices

Local corrective exercise group: 12-week program focused on gluteal muscles; Comprehensive corrective exercise group: 12-week program targeting lower limbs and gluteal muscles; Control group: continue usual daily activities without specific exercise program.

Gluteal muscle strength (abduction, external rotation, hip extension); gluteal muscle endurance (single-leg bridge hold time); static and dynamic knee valgus (Q-angle and femur–tibia angle during standing and single-leg squat)

After the initial assessment and screening for inclusion and exclusion criteria, eligible participants will enter the randomization phase. Randomization in this study will be performed as simple randomization with an individual randomization unit. The random sequence will be generated using the Random function in Microsoft Excel. Based on this sequence, participants will be randomly assigned to three equal groups: the local corrective exercise group, the comprehensive corrective exercise group, and the control group.

Participants will be aware of their group assignment because the study objectives and interventions are explained to them, and blinding participants is not ethically possible. However, individuals involved in data collection and outcome assessment, including measurement assessors and the data analyst, will be blinded to group assignments. The principal investigator and healthcare personnel (physicians, physiotherapists, or trainers) who interact directly with participants will be aware of the group allocation. The Data Safety and Monitoring Committee and personnel preparing the manuscript will also remain blinded to group assignments. This design minimizes potential bias during data collection and analysis.

Individual participant data (IPD) from the study, after de-identification to ensure participant privacy, will be shared upon reasonable request with researchers for secondary analyses related to gluteal muscle function and knee valgus. The data will include primary and secondary outcomes, demographic information, and relevant clinical measures.

Access to the data and documents will begin after the completion of the study and the publication of the main results. Data preparation will include de-identification of participants’ information. Access is expected to be available to interested researchers six months after publication of the results and will continue indefinitely.

Access to the data and documents will be granted to researchers interested in scientific and secondary analyses. Requests for access should include a description of the intended research purpose and type of analysis. The data will not be available for direct commercial use and will be shared only for legitimate scientific research purposes.

The study data and documents may be used solely for scientific research and secondary analyses related to gluteal muscle function and knee valgus. Applicants must provide a written description of the research purpose and proposed analyses. Direct commercial use of the data is not permitted. Individual participant data will be de-identified to protect privacy. Applicants are required to use the data only for the approved purposes and must not publish results without permission.

Applicants requesting access to study data and documents should contact the Principal Investigator: Name: Dr. Afshin Moghadasi Department: Department of Sports Injury and Corrective Exercises Institution: Payame Noor University (PNU) P.O. Box: 19395-4697, Tehran, Iran Email: moghadasi@pnu.ac.ir Phone: +98 918 943 2264 Please include in your email or correspondence a description of the research purpose and proposed analyses so that your request can be evaluated.

1. The applicant should submit a written request via email to the Principal Investigator. 2. The request must clearly describe the research purpose, proposed analyses, and the specific data or documents needed. 3. The Principal Investigator will review the request and, if approved, a Data Use Agreement outlining the terms of use will be sent to the applicant. 4. After signing and returning the agreement, the de-identified data and documents will be prepared and provided to the applicant. 5. The entire process typically takes 2 to 4 weeks after a complete and valid request, depending on the volume of data and complexity of the request.