Healthy SubjectsNCT07341555
Effect of Squats on Postural Stability, Bilateral Coordination and Dynamic Balance
A study testing Condition - no exercise before testing, Condition - exercise on unstable surface and Condition - exercise on stable surface in people with Healthy Subjects, run by Lithuanian Sports University at 1 site in Lithuania.
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 35 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy Subjects
- What is being tested?
- Condition - no exercise before testing, Condition - exercise on unstable surface and Condition - exercise on stable surface
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 42 participants
- Where
- 1 siteLithuania
- Study dates
- 15 Feb 2025to 1 Apr 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 35 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- age between 18 and 35 years,
- voluntary consent to participate in the study.
Who cannot join
- history of lower limb injury within the past six months,
- inability to maintain postural balance during testing.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Lithuania1 site
Department of health promotion and rehabilitation
Kaunas, Kauno M. Sav., 44221
About this study
Official title: IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF SQUATS PERFORMED ON STABLE AND UNSTABLE SURFACES ON POSTURAL STABILITY, BILATERAL COMPARISON AND DYNAMIC BALANCE
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.
Read the detailed description
Despite the growing interest in instability training, there remains a lack of evidence regarding the acute effects of squats performed on stable versus unstable surfaces on key balance-related outcomes, including postural stability, bilateral coordination, and dynamic balance. Filling this gap is essential for informing clinical decision-making and optimizing performance and rehabilitation strategies. The study recruited young, relatively healthy, and physically active individuals-students (n = 42). Inclusion criteria were: 1) age between 18 and 35 years, and 2) voluntary consent to participate. Exclusion criteria were: 1) history of lower limb injury within the past six months, and 2) inability to maintain postural balance during testing.The study applied the following procedures: Participant Data Collection, Leg Length Measurement, Determination of Dominant Leg, Postural Stability Assesment, Dynamic Stability Assessment, and Bilateral coordination assessment.
All assessments were performed under controlled laboratory conditions by the same examiner to ensure reliability. Participants were instructed to avoid caffeine, strenuous exercise, and alcohol consumption for at least 12 hours prior to testing. and their hands placed on their hips.
Participants performed 30 bodyweight squats while standing with their feet shoulder-width apart and their hands placed on their hips. Each squat was executed to approximately 90° of knee flexion at the lowest point. The movements were paced using a metronome, with participants completing 30 squats within 45 seconds to ensure a consistent tempo and intensity.
The test was conducted under two conditions: on a stable surface and on an unstable surface, with a 48-hour interval between the two sessions.
- Conditions
- Healthy Subjects
- Being tested
- Condition - no exercise before testing, Condition - exercise on unstable surface, Condition - exercise on stable surface
- Keywords
- postural balance, exercise, coordination
- Medical subject headings
- Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Condition - no exercise before testingOther
Participants were tested without any exercise
Condition - exercise on unstable surfaceOther
Participants performed 30 squats on unstable surface before testing
Condition - exercise on stable surfaceOther
Participants performed 30 squats on stable surface before testing
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy student volunteers | Experimental | 42 students were tested under three conditions Receives: Other: Condition - no exercise before testing; Other: Condition - exercise on unstable surface; Other: Condition - exercise on stable surface |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
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.
- 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).
- Sway index (the lower the index, the lower the sway)
- Time in Zone (four zone sizes in percentage provided).
- Time in Quadrant (percentage of time).
Measured: 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:
- Sway index in sagittal plane (Anterior/Posterior direction) while standing on a left leg, hand placed on hips. Lower index meant greater results.
- Sway index in sagittal plane (Anterior/Posterior direction) while standing on a right leg, hands placed on hips. Lower index meant greater results.
- Differences in the sway index in the sagittal plane between the two legs. Lower index meant greater results.
- Sway index in frontal plane (Medial/Lateral direction) while standing on a left leg, hands placed on hips. Lower index meant greater results.
- Sway index in frontal plane (Medial/Lateral direction) while standing on a right leg, hands placed on hips. Lower index meant greater results.
- Differences in the sway index in the frontal plane between the two legs. Lower index meant greater results.
- Overall sway index on the left leg.
- Overall sway index on the right leg.
Measured: Under three conditions (Condition 0, condition 1 an Condition 3) at least 48 hours apart.
Secondary outcomes (3)
Dynamic balance
For Dynamic balance Y Balance test was used. Three attempts each leg were conducted, to anterior, poster-omedial and posterolateral directions. The mean of all three reaches were analysed. Participants were instructed to stand barefoot, maintain a single-leg stance and extend the contralateral leg to reach as far as possible along specified lines. The supporting leg could not move, hands were placed on the hips. Y Balance test's score was calculated using this formula: Normalized Reach Distance = (Sum of reach distances in three directions: Limb length) × 100.
Measured: Under three conditions (Condition 0, condition 1 an Condition 3) at least 48 hours apart
Body hight
in cm
Measured: Befor testing
Body weight
in kg
Measured: Before testing
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Jan 2026
- Study start15 Feb 2025
- Primary completion1 Apr 2025
- Study completion1 Apr 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Healthy SubjectsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Single group under three different conditions: no exercise, exercise on stable surface, and exercise on unstable surface.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 42 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Lithuanian Sports University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07341555
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Lithuanian Sports University28
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 6 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 15 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: There are no plans to share individual participant data, as the consent obtained from participants does not include permission for data sharing with other researchers.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF SQUATS PERFORMED ON STABLE AND UNSTABLE SURFACES ON POSTURAL STABILITY, BILATERAL COMPARISON AND DYNAMIC BALANCE
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07341555
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Lithuanian Sports University28
- Conditions
- Healthy Subjects
- Keywords
- postural balance, exercise, coordination
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 42 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Lithuanian Sports UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Apr 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 14 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Detailed description
Despite the growing interest in instability training, there remains a lack of evidence regarding the acute effects of squats performed on stable versus unstable surfaces on key balance-related outcomes, including postural stability, bilateral coordination, and dynamic balance. Filling this gap is essential for informing clinical decision-making and optimizing performance and rehabilitation strategies. The study recruited young, relatively healthy, and physically active individuals-students (n = 42). Inclusion criteria were: 1) age between 18 and 35 years, and 2) voluntary consent to participate. Exclusion criteria were: 1) history of lower limb injury within the past six months, and 2) inability to maintain postural balance during testing.The study applied the following procedures: Participant Data Collection, Leg Length Measurement, Determination of Dominant Leg, Postural Stability Assesment, Dynamic Stability Assessment, and Bilateral coordination assessment.
All assessments were performed under controlled laboratory conditions by the same examiner to ensure reliability. Participants were instructed to avoid caffeine, strenuous exercise, and alcohol consumption for at least 12 hours prior to testing. and their hands placed on their hips.
Participants performed 30 bodyweight squats while standing with their feet shoulder-width apart and their hands placed on their hips. Each squat was executed to approximately 90° of knee flexion at the lowest point. The movements were paced using a metronome, with participants completing 30 squats within 45 seconds to ensure a consistent tempo and intensity.
The test was conducted under two conditions: on a stable surface and on an unstable surface, with a 48-hour interval between the two sessions.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Single group under three different conditions: no exercise, exercise on stable surface, and exercise on unstable surface.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy student volunteers | Experimental | Other: Condition - no exercise before testing, Other: Condition - exercise on unstable surface, Other: Condition - exercise on stable surface42 students were tested under three conditions |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 35 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- age between 18 and 35 years,
- voluntary consent to participate in the study.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- history of lower limb injury within the past six months,
- inability to maintain postural balance during testing.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Condition - no exercise before testingParticipants were tested without any exercise | Other | Healthy student volunteers |
| Condition - exercise on unstable surfaceParticipants performed 30 squats on unstable surface before testing | Other | Healthy student volunteers |
| Condition - exercise on stable surfaceParticipants performed 30 squats on stable surface before testing | Other | Healthy student volunteers |
Primary outcome
Postural stability
Time frame: Under three conditions (Condition 0, condition 1 an Condition 3) at least 48 hours apart
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).
Bilteral Coordination
Time frame: Under three conditions (Condition 0, condition 1 an Condition 3) at least 48 hours apart.
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.
3 secondary outcomes
Dynamic balance
Time frame: Under three conditions (Condition 0, condition 1 an Condition 3) at least 48 hours apart
Body hight
Time frame: Befor testing
Body weight
Time frame: Before testing
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Jan 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. There are no plans to share individual participant data, as the consent obtained from participants does not include permission for data sharing with other researchers.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Condition - no exercise before testing, Condition - exercise on unstable surface and Condition - exercise on stable surface in people with Healthy Subjects, run by Lithuanian Sports University at 1 site in Lithuania.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Lithuania. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Postural stability (time frame: Under three conditions (Condition 0, condition 1 an Condition 3) at least 48 hours apart). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Jan 2026.