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

NCT07351097 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: P.T.REC/012/006017
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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?

Conditions

Exercise

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Measurement of quadriceps strength

  * The participant will be seated on the isokinetic dynamometer chair, with proper posture and alignment ensured. * The lateral femoral epicondyle (the anatomical axis of the knee joint) will be aligned with the mechanical axis of the dynamometer arm. * The lever arm of the dynamometer will be securely attached to the participant's lower leg, just above the ankle, using a padded cuff. * The participant will be instructed to perform maximal knee extension against the resistance of the device, moving from a flexed to an extended position. * The test will be conducted unilaterally, assessing one leg at a time. * The participant will be encouraged to exert maximal effort during each repetition. * The isokinetic device will record key outcome measures including peak torque (Nm), average power, and total work for each repetition. These values will be used to quantify quadriceps strength.

  1.5 months

• Measurement of hamstrings muscle strength

  All previously described quadriceps muscle evaluation procedures will be applied for the hamstrings muscle strength test; however, the range of motion will be set from full knee extension, and the participant will be instructed to actively bend the knee against the resistance of the device to 90°

  1.5 months

• Hamstring to quadriceps H:Q ratio calculation

  The H-Q ratio refers to the relative strength of the hamstring muscles compared to the quadriceps, typically measured under isokinetic conditions (at the same angular velocity). It is calculated as the maximal concentric knee flexion strength divided by maximal concentric knee extension strength.

  1.5 months

Study Arms (4)

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

EXPERIMENTAL

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

Procedure: mini-squat exercises at 30°

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

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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

Procedure: mini-squat exercises at 45°

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

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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

Procedure: mini-squat exercises at 60°

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

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Fifteen participants will receive leg press exercise program only.

Procedure: leg press exercise

Interventions

mini-squat exercises at 45° PROCEDURE

mini-squat exercises at 45° knee flexion and leg press exercises

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

mini-squat exercises at 60° PROCEDURE

mini-squat exercises at 60°and leg press exercises

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

leg press exercise PROCEDURE

leg press exercise program only

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

mini-squat exercises at 30° PROCEDURE

mini-squat exercises at 30° knee flexion and leg press exercises

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

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Male football players aged between 18-30 years
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

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

You may not qualify if:

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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cairo University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Jazan University Hospital

Jizan, Saudi Arabia

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Prof.Dr.Nasr Abdelkader

  Cairo Univesity

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Prof

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 31, 2025
• First Posted: January 20, 2026
• Study Start: September 2, 2025
• Primary Completion: March 3, 2026
• Study Completion: March 3, 2026
• Last Updated: March 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

SA (1)