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Athletic PerformanceBI-UNI ICANCT07709104

Acute Effects of Bilateral Versus Unilateral Isometric Conditioning Activity on Jump Performance in Volleyball Players

A study testing Bilateral Isometric Conditioning Activity, Unilateral Isometric Conditioning Activity and Low-Intensity Treadmill Walking in people with Athletic Performance and Volleyball, run by The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice at 1 site in Poland.

Enrolling by invitation

Enrolling by invitation. The study team selects and invites participants, usually from an existing group of patients.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This randomized crossover trial investigates the acute effects of bilateral and unilateral isometric conditioning activity on bilateral and unilateral jump performance in highly trained male volleyball players. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Any age, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Bilateral Isometric Conditioning Activity, Unilateral Isometric Conditioning Activity and Low-Intensity Treadmill Walking
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
14 participants
Where
1 sitePoland
Study dates
23 Jul 2026to 3 Aug 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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 Any age
  • Men only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • minimum of 7 years of systematic volleyball training,
  • at least 3 resistance training sessions per week during the preceding 5 years,
  • no musculoskeletal injury requiring training cessation longer than 4 weeks within 6 months prior to enrollment,
  • absence of tattoos over the rectus femoris muscle that could interfere with thermographic assessment.

Who cannot join

  • less than 7 years of systematic volleyball training,
  • less than 3 resistance training sessions per week during the previous 5 years,
  • any musculoskeletal injury within the 6 months prior to enrollment that required cessation of training for longer than 4 weeks,
  • current musculoskeletal pain or injury that could affect jumping performance or participation in maximal isometric exercise,
  • tattoos, scars, or skin conditions over the rectus femoris muscle that could interfere with thermographic measurements,
  • use of medications or substances that may affect neuromuscular performance or muscle function,
  • failure to comply with study procedures or testing requirements.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Poland1 site
  • Academy of Physical Education in Katowice

    Katowice, Silesian Voivodeship, 40-065

Other trials in Poland

About this study

Official title: Acute Effects of Bilateral Versus Unilateral Isometric Conditioning Activity on Bilateral and Unilateral Jump Performance in Highly Trained Male Volleyball Players: A Randomized Crossover Trial

This randomized crossover trial investigates the acute effects of bilateral and unilateral isometric conditioning activity on bilateral and unilateral jump performance in highly trained male volleyball players. Fourteen athletes will complete three experimental conditions in randomized order: bilateral isometric squat conditioning activity (BI), unilateral isometric squat conditioning activity (UNI), and a control condition consisting of low-intensity treadmill walking (CTRL). In both isometric conditions, participants will perform three sets of three maximal 3-second contractions, with 3-minute recovery intervals between sets. Jump performance will be assessed before each experimental condition and at 4, 8, and 12 minutes afterward using bilateral countermovement jumps and single-leg jumps performed separately with each lower limb. The primary aim of the study is to determine whether the mode of isometric conditioning activity, unilateral versus bilateral, influences the magnitude and time course of acute changes in jump performance. An additional objective is to assess whether the effects of the conditioning activity differ between bilateral and unilateral jumping tasks.

Read the detailed description

This study is a randomized, counterbalanced crossover trial designed to examine the acute effects of unilateral and bilateral isometric conditioning activity on jump performance in highly trained male volleyball players. Fourteen participants will complete three experimental conditions on separate occasions in randomized order: bilateral isometric conditioning activity (BI), unilateral isometric conditioning activity (UNI), and a control condition (CTRL). Because each participant will complete all three conditions, every athlete will serve as his own control.

Each experimental session will begin with a standardized warm-up consisting of 5 minutes of cycling followed by bodyweight squats, walking lunges, thoracic spine rotations, and submaximal countermovement jumps. Baseline jump performance will then be assessed using two bilateral countermovement jumps and two single-leg jumps performed separately with each lower limb. The single-leg jump will involve take-off from one limb and landing on both limbs.

In the BI condition, participants will perform three sets of three maximal 3-second bilateral isometric squat contractions against an immovable resistance, with 3-minute recovery intervals between sets. In the UNI condition, participants will perform three sets of three maximal 3-second unilateral isometric squat contractions with each lower limb. The limbs will be alternated to reduce systematic differences in recovery time between sides. In the CTRL condition, participants will complete 9 minutes of low-intensity treadmill walking at 6 km/h.

Following each experimental condition, bilateral countermovement jump and single-leg jump performance will be reassessed at 4, 8, and 12 minutes. All jumps will be performed on force platforms. The primary outcome will be bilateral countermovement jump height. Secondary outcomes will include single-leg jump height and selected force-time variables derived from the bilateral and unilateral jump tests.

The primary objective of the study is to compare the acute effects of unilateral and bilateral isometric conditioning activity on bilateral countermovement jump performance. A secondary objective is to determine whether the type of conditioning activity produces task-specific effects on unilateral jump performance and whether the time course of post-activation performance enhancement differs between the BI and UNI conditions.

Being tested
Bilateral Isometric Conditioning Activity, Unilateral Isometric Conditioning Activity, Low-Intensity Treadmill Walking
Keywords
Post-Activation Performance Enhancement, Maximal voluntary isometric contraction, Jump performance, Resistance training

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Bilateral Isometric Conditioning ActivityBehavioural

    Also called BI

    Three sets of three maximal 3-second bilateral isometric squat contractions performed against an immovable resistance, with 3-minute recovery intervals between sets. Participants will be instructed to push as hard and as fast as possible during each contraction.

  • Unilateral Isometric Conditioning ActivityBehavioural

    Also called UNI

    Three sets of three maximal 3-second unilateral isometric squat contractions performed with each lower limb against an immovable resistance. The lower limbs will be alternated, and 3-minute recovery intervals will be provided between sets. Participants will be instructed to push as hard and as fast as possible during each contraction.

  • Low-Intensity Treadmill WalkingBehavioural

    All participants will complete all three experimental conditions in a randomized and counterbalanced order, with a standardized recovery interval between sessions. Each participant will therefore serve as his own control.

Study groups in NCT07709104
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Bilateral Isometric Conditioning ActivityExperimentalParticipants will perform a bilateral isometric conditioning activity consisting of three sets of three maximal 3-second isometric squat contractions against an immovable resistance. Each set will be separated by 3 minutes of recovery.
Receives: Behavioral: Bilateral Isometric Conditioning Activity
Unilateral Isometric Conditioning ActivityExperimentalParticipants will perform a unilateral isometric conditioning activity consisting of three sets of three maximal 3-second isometric squat contractions with each lower limb against an immovable resistance. The lower limbs will be alternated, and each set will be separated by 3 minutes of recovery.
Receives: Behavioral: Unilateral Isometric Conditioning Activity
Control ConditionExperimentalParticipants will complete 9 minutes of low-intensity treadmill walking at a speed of 6 km/h. This condition will serve as the control condition for comparison with the bilateral and unilateral isometric conditioning activities.
Receives: Behavioral: Low-Intensity Treadmill Walking

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Changes in Bilateral Countermovement Jump Height

    Bilateral countermovement jump height will be assessed using dual force platforms operating at a sampling frequency of 1000 Hz. Jump height will be calculated from center-of-mass take-off velocity using the impulse-momentum method and expressed in centimeters. Participants will perform two valid trials at each time point, and the mean value will be used for analysis. Changes from the condition-specific baseline will be compared between the bilateral isometric, unilateral isometric, and control conditions.

    Measured: Baseline and 4, 8, and 12 minutes after each experimental condition

  2. Changes in Single-Leg Jump Height

    Single-leg jump height will be assessed separately for the right and left lower limbs using force platforms. Each jump will be performed with take-off from one limb and landing on both limbs. Jump height will be calculated from center-of-mass take-off velocity using the impulse-momentum method and expressed in centimeters. Two valid trials will be performed with each limb at each time point, and the mean value for each limb will be used for analysis.

    Measured: Baseline and 4, 8, and 12 minutes after each experimental condition

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Changes in Bilateral Countermovement Jump Modified Reactive Strength Index

    The modified reactive strength index during the bilateral countermovement jump will be calculated as jump height in meters divided by time to take-off in seconds and expressed in meters per second. Participants will perform two valid trials at each time point, and the mean value will be used for analysis.

    Measured: Baseline and 4, 8, and 12 minutes after each experimental condition

  2. Changes in Inter-Limb Concentric Impulse Asymmetry During the Bilateral Countermovement Jump

    Concentric impulse will be calculated separately for the right and left lower limbs from force-time data recorded using dual force platforms. Inter-limb asymmetry will be expressed as a percentage and calculated using the following formula: absolute difference between limbs divided by the higher limb value, multiplied by 100. A value of 0% represents perfect symmetry, while higher values indicate greater inter-limb asymmetry. The mean of two valid trials will be used for analysis.

    Measured: Baseline and 4, 8, and 12 minutes after each experimental condition

  3. Changes in Inter-Limb Single-Leg Jump Height Asymmetry

    Inter-limb asymmetry in single-leg jump height will be calculated from the mean jump height obtained separately for the right and left lower limbs. Asymmetry will be expressed as a percentage and calculated as the absolute difference between limbs divided by the higher limb value, multiplied by 100. A value of 0% represents perfect symmetry, while higher values indicate greater inter-limb asymmetry.

    Measured: Baseline and 4, 8, and 12 minutes after each experimental condition

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted16 Jul 2026
  2. Study start23 Jul 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion3 Aug 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion3 Aug 2026 (estimated)

Resources

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
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Model description
Participants will complete all three experimental conditions in a randomized and counterbalanced order. The conditions will include bilateral isometric conditioning activity, unilateral isometric conditioning activity, and a control condition. Experimental sessions will be separated by a standardized washout period to minimize carryover effects.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
14 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07709104
Sponsor's protocol ID
2-X/2025/002
Acronym
BI-UNI ICA
Status last verified
Jul 2026
First submitted
13 Jul 2026
Last updated
16 Jul 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: De-identified individual participant data will be shared upon reasonable request after publication of the study results. Requests should be directed to the corresponding author.

Publications

  • Krzysztofik M, Wilk M, Pisz A, Kolinger D, Tsoukos A, Aschenbrenner P, Stastny P, Bogdanis GC. Effects of Unilateral Conditioning Activity on Acute Performance Enhancement: A Systematic Review. J Sports Sci Med. 2022 Dec 1;21(4):625-639. doi: 10.52082/jssm.2022.625. eCollection 2022 Dec.

    PubMed 36523899
  • Jarosz J, Szwarc A. Isometric Conditioning Activity and Jump Performance: Impact of Training Status in Male Participants. J Clin Med. 2025 Sep 3;14(17):6214. doi: 10.3390/jcm14176214.

    PubMed 40943974
  • Lum D, Barbosa TM. Brief Review: Effects of Isometric Strength Training on Strength and Dynamic Performance. Int J Sports Med. 2019 May;40(6):363-375. doi: 10.1055/a-0863-4539. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

    PubMed 30943568
  • Helbin J, Gawel D, Terbalyan A, Wilk M, Krzysztofik M, Lum D, Jarosz J. Acute Effects of Isometric Contraction Distribution on Jump Performance in Volleyball Players. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2025 Sep 9;10(3):343. doi: 10.3390/jfmk10030343.

    PubMed 40981042
  • Jarosz J, Drozd M, Gawel D, Wilk M, Helbin J, Krzysztofik M. Acute effects of isometric conditioning activity with different distribution contraction on countermovement jump performance in resistance trained participants. Sci Rep. 2025 May 15;15(1):16960. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-02126-4.

    PubMed 40374844

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Bilateral Isometric Conditioning Activity, Unilateral Isometric Conditioning Activity and Low-Intensity Treadmill Walking in people with Athletic Performance and Volleyball, run by The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice at 1 site in Poland.

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 4 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: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Jul 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 Poland. 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?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

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?

Changes in Bilateral Countermovement Jump Height (time frame: Baseline and 4, 8, and 12 minutes after each experimental condition). 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?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07709104, which also lists 5 linked publications.

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 16 Jul 2026.

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