ExerciseNCT07351097
Adding Mini-squat Exercises to Leg Press Exercise on Quadriceps and Hamstring Strength and H:Q Ratio in Athletes
A study testing mini-squat exercises at 30°, mini-squat exercises at 45° and mini-squat exercises at 60° in people with Exercise, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Saudi Arabia.
Trial 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? Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Exercise
- What is being tested?
- mini-squat exercises at 30°, mini-squat exercises at 45° and mini-squat exercises at 60°
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSaudi Arabia
- Study dates
- 2 Sep 2025to 3 Mar 2026
- 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 30 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- 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.
Who cannot join
- 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.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effect of Adding Mini-squat Exercises at Different Angles to Leg Press Exercise on Quadriceps and Hamstring Strength and H:Q Ratio in Athletes
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?
Read the detailed description
Recent studies have highlighted the importance of exercise selection and angle specificity in resistance training, showing that different knee angles result in varied activation patterns in the quadriceps and hamstrings. However, current literature offers limited insight into the effects of integrating mini squat exercises with leg press training on injury prevention and functional outcomes in athletic populations. In particular, there is a lack of literature on how such a combined leg press and mini squat exercise at different angles influences the H:Q ratio, lower limb neuromuscular control, and performance in young male football players. Therefore, the present study aims to examine whether incorporating mini squats performed at varying knee flexion angles into a leg press training program can improve muscle balance and lower limb strength in football players. The findings may provide valuable guidance for physiotherapists, coaches, and sports scientists in developing evidence-based, angle-specific exercise protocols tailored to the functional demands of athletes.
- Conditions
- Exercise
- Being tested
- mini-squat exercises at 30°, mini-squat exercises at 45°, mini-squat exercises at 60°, leg press exercise
- Medical subject headings
- Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
mini-squat exercises at 30°Procedure or surgery
mini-squat exercises at 30° knee flexion and leg press exercises
mini-squat exercises at 45°Procedure or surgery
mini-squat exercises at 45° knee flexion and leg press exercises
mini-squat exercises at 60°Procedure or surgery
mini-squat exercises at 60°and leg press exercises
leg press exerciseProcedure or surgery
leg press exercise program only
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Receives: 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 Receives: 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 Receives: 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. Receives: Procedure: leg press exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
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.
Measured: 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°
Measured: 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.
Measured: 1.5 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Jan 2026
- Study start2 Sep 2025
- Primary completion3 Mar 2026
- Study completion3 Mar 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for ExerciseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Cairo UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Nasr Awad Abdelkader Othman, Cairo University
- Investigators
- Prof.Dr.Nasr Abdelkader, Principal investigator, Cairo Univesity
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07351097
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- P.T.REC/012/006017
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 31 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 27 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Adding Mini-squat Exercises at Different Angles to Leg Press Exercise on Quadriceps and Hamstring Strength and H:Q Ratio in Athletes
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07351097
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- P.T.REC/012/006017
- Conditions
- Exercise
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 2 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 3 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 3 Mar 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 20 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.
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?
Detailed description
Recent studies have highlighted the importance of exercise selection and angle specificity in resistance training, showing that different knee angles result in varied activation patterns in the quadriceps and hamstrings. However, current literature offers limited insight into the effects of integrating mini squat exercises with leg press training on injury prevention and functional outcomes in athletic populations. In particular, there is a lack of literature on how such a combined leg press and mini squat exercise at different angles influences the H:Q ratio, lower limb neuromuscular control, and performance in young male football players. Therefore, the present study aims to examine whether incorporating mini squats performed at varying knee flexion angles into a leg press training program can improve muscle balance and lower limb strength in football players. The findings may provide valuable guidance for physiotherapists, coaches, and sports scientists in developing evidence-based, angle-specific exercise protocols tailored to the functional demands of athletes.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Group A (mini-squat at 30° knee flexion and leg press) | Experimental | Procedure: mini-squat exercises at 30°Fifteen participants will receive mini-squat exercises at 30° knee flexion and leg press exercises |
| Group B (mini-squat at 45° knee flexion and leg press) | Active comparator | Procedure: mini-squat exercises at 45°Fifteen participants will receive mini-squat exercises at 45° knee flexion and leg press exercises |
| Group C (mini-squat at 60° knee flexion and leg press) | Active comparator | Procedure: mini-squat exercises at 60°Fifteen participants will receive mini-squat exercises at 60°and leg press exercises |
| Group D (Control group: leg press exercise program only) | Placebo comparator | Procedure: leg press exerciseFifteen participants will receive leg press exercise program only. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- 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.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| mini-squat exercises at 30°mini-squat exercises at 30° knee flexion and leg press exercises | Procedure or surgery | Group A (mini-squat at 30° knee flexion and leg press) |
| mini-squat exercises at 45°mini-squat exercises at 45° knee flexion and leg press exercises | Procedure or surgery | Group B (mini-squat at 45° knee flexion and leg press) |
| mini-squat exercises at 60°mini-squat exercises at 60°and leg press exercises | Procedure or surgery | Group C (mini-squat at 60° knee flexion and leg press) |
| leg press exerciseleg press exercise program only | Procedure or surgery | Group D (Control group: leg press exercise program only) |
Primary outcome
Measurement of quadriceps strength
Time frame: 1.5 months
* 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.
Measurement of hamstrings muscle strength
Time frame: 1.5 months
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°
Hamstring to quadriceps H:Q ratio calculation
Time frame: 1.5 months
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.
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 27 Mar 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
Prof.Dr.Nasr Abdelkader principal investigator
Cairo Univesity
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing mini-squat exercises at 30°, mini-squat exercises at 45° and mini-squat exercises at 60° in people with Exercise, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Saudi Arabia.
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 6 inclusion and 7 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 27 Mar 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 Saudi Arabia. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?
Measurement of quadriceps strength (time frame: 1.5 months). The study lists 3 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 27 Mar 2026.