The Effects of Increased vs. Traditional Squat Stance Width on Performance Indices in Elite Rugby League Players

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Sports Performance
• Interventions: Behavioral: Normal stance width; Behavioral: Wide stance width

• Registration Number: NCT05505786
• Lead Sponsor: University of Central Lancashire

Brief Summary

The back squat is a commonly utilized resistance training exercise for the promotion of both performance and musculoskeletal health. There are a range of manipulations that can be made to the setup of this resistance exercise, with once such adaptation being the stance width when performing the exercise. This intervention aims to explore the effects of increasing the stance with on performance indices in elite rugby league players.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2021-10-01
• Primary Completion: 2021-12-01
• Study Completion: 2022-04-01
• Status Verified: 2022-08
• Study First Submitted: 2022-08-16
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-08-16
• Study First Posted: 2022-08-18
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-08-31
• Last Update Posted: 2022-09-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 26

Inclusion Criteria

• Rugby league player contracted to a professional Super League team
• 5-years minimum of back squat experience
• Male
• Injury free for 6-months

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Exclusion Criteria

• Female
• Any injury at baseline
• Any international matches played during the between season break

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Normal stance width	Normal stance width	Those assigned to this group will complete their pre-season training as normal i.e. when performing their squat exercises they will do so using their habitual (self-selected) stance width.
Wide stance width	Wide stance width	Those assigned to this (i.e. experimental) group will also complete their pre-season training as normal, the only exception will be that when performing their squat exercises they will increase their stance width by 20% compared to their self-selected stance width.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
505 agility test	8-weeks	Test of 180 degree turning ability, measured using timing gates.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Sum of skinfold thickness	8-weeks	Skinfold thicknesses measured using callipers at eight sites according to the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) restricted profile (triceps, subscapular, biceps, iliac crest, supraspinal, abdominal, mid-thigh, and medial calf)
Three repetition maximum squat strength	8-weeks	The maximum squat weight that can be lifted for a total of three repetitions
Counter movement jump height	8-weeks	The maximum height that can be jumped vertically, measured using a jump mat.
Body mass	8-weeks	Body mass using a weighing scale.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Central Lancashire; 🇬🇧 Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom