Adding Mini-squat Exercises to Leg Press Exercise on Quadriceps and Hamstring Strength and H:Q Ratio in Athletes

Cairo University (CU)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Exercise

Treatments: Procedure: mini-squat exercises at 60°; Procedure: mini-squat exercises at 45°; Procedure: mini-squat exercises at 30°; Procedure: leg press exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07351097

P.T.REC/012/006017

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will try to answer the following question:

Will adding mini-squat exercises at different angles (30°,45°, and 60°) to leg press exercise influence quadriceps and hamstring strength and H:Q angle in football players?

Full description

Recent studies have highlighted the importance of exercise selection and angle specificity in resistance training, showing that different knee angles result in varied activation patterns in the quadriceps and hamstrings. However, current literature offers limited insight into the effects of integrating mini squat exercises with leg press training on injury prevention and functional outcomes in athletic populations. In particular, there is a lack of literature on how such a combined leg press and mini squat exercise at different angles influences the H:Q ratio, lower limb neuromuscular control, and performance in young male football players. Therefore, the present study aims to examine whether incorporating mini squats performed at varying knee flexion angles into a leg press training program can improve muscle balance and lower limb strength in football players. The findings may provide valuable guidance for physiotherapists, coaches, and sports scientists in developing evidence-based, angle-specific exercise protocols tailored to the functional demands of athletes.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 30 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Male football players aged between 18-30 years (Scoz et al., 2021).
2. Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m² (Walsh et al., 2018 & Sattar& Lean, 2009).
3. Currently training or playing with a registered football club/team.
4. Hamstring-to-Quadriceps (HQ) strength ratio of ≥ 0.6 (Çelebi et al., 2018).
5. Having no oral or injectable non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), 2weeks before starting study.
6. Having no oral injectable corticosteroids 3 months before starting the study.

Exclusion criteria

1. History of acute or chronic injury to the knee, hip, or ankle joint
2. Undergoing any other rehabilitation or physical therapy programs during the six weeks before starting the study
3. Diagnosed with neurological or systemic disorders affecting muscle function or balance
4. Participation in competitive sports or high-intensity training outside the study protocol during the study period
5. Presence of any contraindication to exercise, such as uncontrolled hypertension or heart conditions.
6. Clinically free from lower limb injuries.
7. Having no history of neurological, cardiovascular, or musculoskeletal disorders.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

60 participants in 4 patient groups, including a placebo group

Group A (mini-squat at 30° knee flexion and leg press)

Experimental group

Description:

Fifteen participants will receive mini-squat exercises at 30° knee flexion and leg press exercises

Treatment:

Procedure: mini-squat exercises at 30°

Group B (mini-squat at 45° knee flexion and leg press)

Active Comparator group

Description:

Fifteen participants will receive mini-squat exercises at 45° knee flexion and leg press exercises

Treatment:

Procedure: mini-squat exercises at 45°

Group C (mini-squat at 60° knee flexion and leg press)

Active Comparator group

Description:

Fifteen participants will receive mini-squat exercises at 60°and leg press exercises

Treatment:

Procedure: mini-squat exercises at 60°

Group D (Control group: leg press exercise program only)

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Fifteen participants will receive leg press exercise program only.

Treatment:

Procedure: leg press exercise