Effects of Heavy Back-Squat PAPE on Jump and Repeated Sprint Performance in Trained Soccer Players

NCT07736209 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: PAPE-RSA-2025-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 20
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study examined whether performing heavy back squats before exercise affects jumping ability and repeated sprint performance in trained soccer players. Twenty male university soccer players completed two testing sessions in a randomized crossover design. In one session, participants performed a standardized warm-up only. In the other session, they performed the same warm-up followed by three sets of three back-squat repetitions at 90% of their one-repetition maximum. The two sessions were separated by one week. After each condition, participants completed a countermovement jump test and an 18 × 40-meter repeated sprint test. The study aimed to determine whether the heavy back-squat activity improves early explosive performance and whether it increases fatigue during prolonged repeated sprint exercise.

Conditions

Post-activation Performance Enhancement and Repeated Sprint Performance in Trained Soccer Players

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Repeated Sprint Performance Decrement

  Percentage decline in repeated sprint performance calculated from sprint times recorded during an 18 × 40-meter shuttle sprint test. The protocol consisted of three sets of six 40-meter shuttle sprints, with 20 seconds of passive recovery between sprints and 4 minutes of passive recovery between sets. Lower percentage values indicate better maintenance of sprint performance and less fatigue.

  During the 18 × 40-meter repeated sprint test, which lasted approximately 15 minutes and was completed within each of two experimental sessions lasting approximately 25-35 minutes; the sessions were separated by a 1-week washout period.

• Countermovement Jump Height

  Maximum countermovement jump height measured in centimeters using the Optojump Next optical measurement system. Participants performed three maximal countermovement jump trials with their hands positioned on their hips and 60 seconds of passive recovery between trials. The highest jump height was used for analysis. Higher values indicate better jump performance.

  At approximately 5 minutes after the assigned condition, within each of two experimental sessions lasting approximately 25-35 minutes; the sessions were separated by a 1-week washout period.

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Mean Repeated Sprint Time

  During the 18 × 40-meter repeated sprint test, which lasted approximately 15 minutes and was completed within each of two experimental sessions lasting approximately 25-35 minutes; the sessions were separated by a 1-week washout period.

• Best Sprint Time

  During the 18 × 40-meter repeated sprint test, which lasted approximately 15 minutes and was completed within each of two experimental sessions lasting approximately 25-35 minutes; the sessions were separated by a 1-week washout period.

• Worst Sprint Time

  During the 18 × 40-meter repeated sprint test, which lasted approximately 15 minutes and was completed within each of two experimental sessions lasting approximately 25-35 minutes; the sessions were separated by a 1-week washout period.

• Sprint Time Across Individual Repetitions

  During each repetition of the 18 × 40-meter repeated sprint test, which lasted approximately 15 minutes and was completed within each of two experimental sessions lasting approximately 25-35 minutes; the sessions were separated by a 1-week washout period

Study Arms (2)

Control-PAPE Sequence

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants first completed the Control condition, consisting of a standardized warm-up without an additional conditioning activity. After a one-week washout period, participants completed the PAPE condition, consisting of the same standardized warm-up followed by three sets of three back-squat repetitions at 90% of one-repetition maximum, with 3 minutes of passive recovery between sets. Countermovement jump and repeated sprint performance were assessed after each condition.

Behavioral: Heavy Back-Squat PAPE Protocol; Behavioral: Standardized Warm-Up Control Condition

PAPE-Control Sequence

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants first completed the PAPE condition, consisting of a standardized warm-up followed by three sets of three back-squat repetitions at 90% of one-repetition maximum, with 3 minutes of passive recovery between sets. After a one-week washout period, participants completed the Control condition, consisting of the same standardized warm-up without an additional conditioning activity. Countermovement jump and repeated sprint performance were assessed after each condition.

Behavioral: Heavy Back-Squat PAPE Protocol; Behavioral: Standardized Warm-Up Control Condition

Interventions

Heavy Back-Squat PAPE Protocol BEHAVIORAL

Participants completed a standardized warm-up followed by a heavy back-squat conditioning activity consisting of three sets of three repetitions at 90% of one-repetition maximum. Three minutes of passive recovery were provided between sets. Countermovement jump performance was assessed approximately 4.5-5 minutes after the final squat set, immediately before the repeated sprint test.

Control-PAPE Sequence; PAPE-Control Sequence

Standardized Warm-Up Control Condition BEHAVIORAL

Participants completed a standardized warm-up consisting of 5 minutes of jogging, followed by 10 bodyweight squats, 10 lunges, and 10 lateral shuffles. No additional conditioning activity was performed. After approximately 5 minutes of passive recovery, countermovement jump performance was assessed immediately before the repeated sprint test.

Control-PAPE Sequence; PAPE-Control Sequence

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 23 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Male soccer players aged 20-23 years.
• Currently competing in the top division of a university soccer league.
• A minimum of three years of regular soccer training experience.
• Free from long-term musculoskeletal injury during the previous six months.
• Willing and able to complete all familiarization, strength-testing, and experimental sessions.
• Provision of written informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• A musculoskeletal injury resulting in an absence from training or competition for 21 days or longer during the previous six months.
• Use of medications or nutritional or ergogenic supplements that could affect exercise performance.
• Any health or physical condition preventing safe participation in heavy back-squat, countermovement jump, or repeated sprint testing.
• Failure to complete both experimental conditions.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa

Istanbul, Istanbul, 34320, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 26, 2026
• First Posted: July 30, 2026
• Study Start: December 20, 2025
• Primary Completion: February 15, 2026
• Study Completion: February 15, 2026
• Last Updated: July 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)