Leg Muscle Activity Measured Via Electromyography in Back Squat Variations

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Muscular Fatigue; Surface Electromyography
• Interventions: Other: Traditional Back Squat with Chains; Other: Box Squat; Other: Barefoot Back Squat; Other: Traditional Back Squat

• Registration Number: NCT03902730
• Lead Sponsor: University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

Brief Summary

The purpose of the study is to see how different forms of the squat exercise change my body's leg muscle activity. Four forms of the traditional back squat will be used: traditional back squat, barefoot squat, box squat, and traditional back squat with chains.

Detailed Description

Resistance exercise has various benefits that promote health and reduce the chance of chronic disease, but the biggest benefit may be found in the effects on maintaining muscle mass throughout the aging process. The implications resistance training has on an individual's ability to function throughout the day with less fatigue whilst performing tasks at an easier level can all be related to improved strength and endurance that comes with resistance training. Furthermore, how the nervous system adapts and sends signals to the working muscles are of great interest as neuromuscular adaptations help in coordination, balance, and agility. Variations of the same style of exercise have been theorized to improve and/or change the adaptations that can occur. Thus, the purpose of this study would be to assess surface electromyography (sEMG) activations on 4 anatomical sites simultaneously during the squat exercise under varying conditions.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2019-03-26
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-04-02
• Study First Posted: 2019-04-04
• Study Start: 2019-05-01
• Status Verified: 2021-09
• Primary Completion: 2021-09-25
• Study Completion: 2021-09-25
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-09-27
• Last Update Posted: 2021-09-28

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 7

Inclusion Criteria

• Participants will be males and females between the ages of 18 - 30 years
• Participant has provided written and dated informed consent to participate
• Participant is willing and able to comply with the protocol
• Participant is apparently healthy and free from disease, as determined by a health history questionnaire
• Participant agrees to abstain from lower body exercise 3 days prior to each testing visit
• Participant has completed at least 1 lower body workout every week for the past 6 months

Exclusion Criteria

• Participant reports any unusual adverse events associated with this study that in consultation with their physician recommends removal from the study
• Participant begins consumption of new supplement during the timeline of this study
• Participant is unable to refrain from consuming pre-workout supplement prior to testing sessions
• Participant is unwilling to refrain from lower body exercise at least 3 days prior to each testing session

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Back Squat Variation Four	Traditional Back Squat with Chains	In a randomized order, traditional back squat with chains will be completed.
Back Squat Variation Three	Box Squat	In a randomized order, box squat will be completed.
Back Squat Variation Two	Barefoot Back Squat	In a randomized order, barefoot back squat will be completed.
Back Squat Variation One	Traditional Back Squat	In a randomized order, traditional back squat will be completed.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from Baseline Mean Peak Muscle Activity Between Four Back Squat Variations	Up to 4 weeks	Participants will complete 5 sets of 10 repetitions at 70% of their 1 repetition maximum with 1-minute rest in between each set under different variations of the back squat. Each week, participants will be randomly assigned to complete a variation of back squat. Under each variation, surface electromyography recordings will consist of mean peak muscle activity as measured via BIOPAC BSL for the first and last sets of the training protocol. Thus, changes between first and last sets of the training protocol will be assessed for changes as well as comparisons between each variation of back squat to assess changes.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from Baseline Mean Muscle Activity Between Four Back Squat Variations	Up to 4 weeks	Participants will complete 5 sets of 10 repetitions at 70% of their 1 repetition maximum with 1-minute rest in between each set under different variations of the back squat. Each week, participants will be randomly assigned to complete a variation of back squat. Under each variation, surface electromyography recordings will consist of mean muscle activity as measured via BIOPAC BSL for the first and last sets of the training protocol. Thus, changes between first and last sets of the training protocol will be assessed for changes as well as comparisons between each variation of back squat to assess changes.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

UMHB Human Performance Lab; 🇺🇸 Belton, Texas, United States