Deep Squat, Cross-Legged Sitting and Low Back Pain

NCT06852677 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: FT-2025-SQUAT-AH
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this randomized experimental study is to learn if regular deep squat or cross-legged sitting practice can improve mobility, reduce pain, and enhance visceral functions in adults with chronic low back pain (LBP). The main questions it aims to answer are: Does practicing deep squat or cross-legged sitting increase joint mobility (hip, spine, ankle) and flexibility? Does it reduce pain levels in the lumbar spine and hip region? Does it improve visceral functions related to digestion and bowel movements? Researchers will compare a deep squat group, a cross-legged sitting group, and a control group to see if these interventions lead to significant improvements in mobility, pain reduction, and visceral function compared to no intervention. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to one of three groups (deep squat, cross-legged sitting, or control). Practice their assigned position for 20 minutes per day, 6 days a week, for 6 weeks. Undergo baseline and post-intervention assessments, including mobility tests, pain evaluation, and quality-of-life questionnaires.

Conditions

Low Back Pain; Hip Pain Chronic

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Visual Analogue Scale for Pain (VAS)

  A scale for measuring the intensity or frequency of pain.

  Change from baseline to 6 weeks

• WBLT (The Weight-bearing lunge test)

  The Weight-bearing lunge test (WBLT) is used to assess the dorsiflexion range of movement at the ankle joint.

  Change from baseline to 6 weeks

• 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36)

  SF-36 is a set of generic, coherent, and easily administered quality-of-life measures.

  Change from baseline to 6 weeks

• The Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) questionnaire

  PAC-QOL is the most validated and the most specific tool for measuring the quality of life of patients with constipation.

  Change from baseline to 6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Goniometry

  Change from baseline to 6 weeks

• Sitting-rising test

  Change from baseline to 6 weeks

• Sit and reach test

  Change from baseline to 6 weeks

• Patrick (FABER) test

  Change from baseline to 6 weeks

• Schober test

  Change from baseline to 6 weeks

Study Arms (3)

Deep Squat

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this experimental group will perform deep squat position daily (20 minutes, 6 days per week) for 6 weeks.

Other: Deep Squat position

Cross-Legged Sitting

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this experimental group will perform cross legged position daily (20 minutes, 6 days per week) for 6 weeks.

Other: Cross-legged Sitting

Control

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this control group won't have any intervention.

Interventions

Deep Squat position OTHER

Participants assigned to the deep squat group will perform a cumulative total of 20 minutes of deep squatting per day, six days a week, for six weeks. The squatting time can be divided into multiple shorter sessions throughout the day, with a maximum interval of 48 hours between sessions. Participants will be instructed to maintain an upright posture with heels on the ground, feet shoulder-width apart, and knees aligned with toes. They will be encouraged to gradually increase their squat duration and comfort over time. Before starting the intervention, participants will receive standardized instructions on proper squat form to ensure safety and maximize benefits. Their compliance will be monitored through a training diary in the experimental (Tulkit) app.

Deep Squat

Cross-legged Sitting OTHER

Participants assigned to the cross-legged sitting group will perform a cumulative total of 20 minutes of cross-legged sitting per day, six days a week, for six weeks. The squatting time can be divided into multiple shorter sessions throughout the day, with a maximum interval of 48 hours between sessions. Participants will be instructed to maintain an upright posture while sitting. They will be encouraged to gradually increase their cross-legged sitting duration and comfort over time. Before starting the intervention, participants will receive standardized instructions on proper sitting form to ensure safety and maximize benefits. Their compliance will be monitored through a training diary in the experimental (Tulkit) app.

Cross-Legged Sitting

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• age 20-60 years, chronic lower back or hip pain lasting at least 3 months, presence of bowel problems at least twice a month for at least 3 months)

You may not qualify if:

• acute health problem, pregnancy, hip or knee TEP, patellofemoral syndrome or recent lower limb surgery

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ladislav Batalik: lead

Study Sites (1)

University hospital Brno

Brno, Czechia

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Back Pain; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Adéla Haňurová, BSc.

  LF MUNI

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 25, 2025
• First Posted: February 28, 2025
• Study Start: March 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: September 15, 2025
• Study Completion: September 15, 2025
• Last Updated: September 19, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CZ (1)