Effect of Squats on Postural Stability, Bilateral Coordination and Dynamic Balance

NCT07341555 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Lithuanian Sports University28
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 42
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this interventional study was to evaluate the immediate effects of a single bout of 30 squats performed on an unstable surface versus a stable surface on postural stability, bilateral coordination, and dynamic balance in healty subjects. We hypothesized that performing squats on an unstable surface would result in significantly greater improvements in these parameters compared to squats on a stable surface. By comparing the immediate effects under randomized conditions, this study seeks to contribute novel insights into the role of surface stability in acute exercise-induced balance adaptations.

Conditions

Healthy Subjects

Keywords

postural balance; exercise; coordination

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Postural stability

  Individuals were asked to stand on the platform with both feet barefoot; the platform's instabil-ity level was set to 11 (with 11 representing a predefined setting on the system). Foot position was determined using the Biodex Balance System (BBS) platform, with the cuboid bones serv-ing as anatomical landmarks to ensure that the foot was centred; subjects' arms were positioned on their hips throughout testing. Postural stability tests were measured in 10-second trials with a 10-second rest period between tests, with a total of three trials conducted. 1. Stability index (the lower the index, the better the stability). Overall stability index (Overall), sagittal plane's stability index (Forward/Backward) and frontal plane's stability index (Left/Right). 2. Sway index (the lower the index, the lower the sway) 3. Time in Zone (four zone sizes in percentage provided). 4. Time in Quadrant (percentage of time).

  Under three conditions (Condition 0, condition 1 an Condition 3) at least 48 hours apart

• Bilteral Coordination

  Using the Biodex machine the following parameters were measured: 1. Sway index in sagittal plane (Anterior/Posterior direction) while standing on a left leg, hand placed on hips. Lower index meant greater results. 2. Sway index in sagittal plane (Anterior/Posterior direction) while standing on a right leg, hands placed on hips. Lower index meant greater results. 3. Differences in the sway index in the sagittal plane between the two legs. Lower index meant greater results. 4. Sway index in frontal plane (Medial/Lateral direction) while standing on a left leg, hands placed on hips. Lower index meant greater results. 5. Sway index in frontal plane (Medial/Lateral direction) while standing on a right leg, hands placed on hips. Lower index meant greater results. 6. Differences in the sway index in the frontal plane between the two legs. Lower index meant greater results. 7. Overall sway index on the left leg. 8. Overall sway index on the right leg.

  Under three conditions (Condition 0, condition 1 an Condition 3) at least 48 hours apart.

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Dynamic balance

  Under three conditions (Condition 0, condition 1 an Condition 3) at least 48 hours apart

• Body hight

  Befor testing

• Body weight

  Before testing

Study Arms (1)

Healthy student volunteers

EXPERIMENTAL

42 students were tested under three conditions

Other: Condition - no exercise before testing; Other: Condition - exercise on unstable surface; Other: Condition - exercise on stable surface

Interventions

Condition - no exercise before testing OTHER

Participants were tested without any exercise

Healthy student volunteers

Condition - exercise on unstable surface OTHER

Participants performed 30 squats on unstable surface before testing

Healthy student volunteers

Condition - exercise on stable surface OTHER

Participants performed 30 squats on stable surface before testing

Healthy student volunteers

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• age between 18 and 35 years,
• voluntary consent to participate in the study.

You may not qualify if:

• history of lower limb injury within the past six months,
• inability to maintain postural balance during testing.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Lithuanian Sports University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Department of health promotion and rehabilitation

Kaunas, Kauno M. Sav., 44221, Lithuania

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: No masking is applied in this study. This is a single-arm, open-label trial; therefore, no participants, care providers, investigators, or outcome assessors are masked.
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Single group under three different conditions: no exercise, exercise on stable surface, and exercise on unstable surface.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 6, 2026
• First Posted: January 14, 2026
• Study Start: February 15, 2025
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2025
• Study Completion: April 1, 2025
• Last Updated: January 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

LI (1)