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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07700641

Effects of Squat Variations on Quadriceps Muscle Thickness and Strength

The study was conducted using a randomized controlled trial design. Participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either the "Classic Squat Group" or the "Heel-Elevated Squat Group." Both groups completed an 8-week strength training program consisting of three sessions per week, following the resistance exercise principles recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine. The main component of the program was the assigned squat variation.

Baseline and post-intervention assessments at 8 weeks were performed according to standardized protocols. Exercise sessions were supervised by an experienced physiotherapist to ensure proper technique and minimize injury risk. Training intensity was progressively increased based on participants' adaptation and one-repetition maximum (1-RM) strength levels.

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Key information

Conditions

Exercise Physiology Muscle Strength and Oxygenation

Age range

18 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Uskudar University

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • No musculoskeletal, neurological, or cardiopulmonary conditions that would prevent participation in exercise
  • Healthy young adults
  • No regular lower extremity training participation in the last 6 months

Exclusion criteria

  • History of surgery or serious injury to the knee, hip, or ankle joints within the past year
  • Presence of any neurological disorder affecting balance or motor control
  • Presence of any cardiovascular or pulmonary disease that contraindicates exercise participation

Treatment and study plan

Tradional Squat Group

Other

Participants completed an 8-week supervised bodyweight squat program performed twice weekly, with progressive increases in training volume and intensity. Squats were performed to approximately parallel depth, using a controlled ~2-s eccentric phase followed by maximal intended concentric velocity, with 2-min rest intervals between sets.

Other names: Classic Squat Group

Heel-Elevated Squat Group

Other

Participants in the Heel-Elevated Squat Group performed all repetitions with both heels supported on rigid 5-cm wedges. Participants completed an 8-week supervised bodyweight squat program performed twice weekly, with progressive increases in training volume and intensity. Squats were performed to approximately parallel depth, using a controlled ~2-s eccentric phase followed by maximal intended concentric velocity, with 2-min rest intervals between sets.

Primary outcomes

  1. Muscle Strength (Isomed 2000 Isokinetic Dynamometer)

    Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks post-intervention

    Quadriceps muscle strength was assessed using a Isomed 2000 isokinetic dynamometer, which is considered a gold-standard method for evaluating muscle performance. Isokinetic testing measures maximal torque produced by the muscle throughout the range of motion at a constant angular velocity, providing reliable data on muscle function. Knee extension strength were evaluated.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Assessment of Muscle Thickness

    Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks post-intervention

    Before measurement, participants rested for 20 minutes, and quadriceps muscle thickness was assessed at the midpoint between the anterior superior iliac spine and the superior pole of the patella using B-mode ultrasonography. Anterior thigh muscle thickness was defined as the distance between the superficial fascia of the rectus femoris and the femoral periosteum, representing the combined thickness of the rectus femoris and vastus intermedius.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Uskudar University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jul 14, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 14, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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