Healthy Volunteers (HV)NCT07741799
Muscle Activation During Mat and Reformer Bridge Exercises With Heel Raise
A study testing Bridge and Heel Raise Bridge Exercises on Mat and Reformer in people with Healthy Volunteers (HV) and Muscle Activation, run by Istinye University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study aimed to compare the electromyographic (EMG) activity of trunk and lower extremity muscles during double-leg bridge and double-leg bridge with heel raise exercises performed on a mat and on a reformer with different spring resistances. Thirty healthy women participated in this interventional study. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy Volunteers (HV), Muscle Activation
- What is being tested?
- Bridge and Heel Raise Bridge Exercises on Mat and Reformer
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 14 Dec 2025to 30 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 40 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Female participants Age between 18 and 40 years Healthy volunteers Able to perform bridge exercises Provided written informed consent
Who cannot join
- History of spinal or lower extremity pain or surgery Neurological disorders Cardiovascular or respiratory conditions contraindicating exercise Pregnancy or less than 6 months postpartum Skin lesions preventing sEMG electrode placement Use of medications affecting neuromuscular function Postural deformities affecting exercise performance Musculoskeletal disorders affecting trunk or lower extremities
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Istinye University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Fizyotem Laboratory
Istanbul, 34010
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Heel-Raise Variations in Mat and Reformer Bridge Exercises on Muscle Activation : A Surface Electromyography Study
This study aimed to compare the electromyographic (EMG) activity of trunk and lower extremity muscles during double-leg bridge and double-leg bridge with heel raise exercises performed on a mat and on a reformer with different spring resistances. Thirty healthy women participated in this interventional study. Surface EMG was used to record the activity of the rectus abdominis, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, semimembranosus, medial gastrocnemius, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles. The findings are expected to provide evidence for selecting appropriate bridge exercise variations and reformer spring resistance in physiotherapy and Pilates-based rehabilitation.
Read the detailed description
Bridge exercises are commonly used in physiotherapy and Pilates-based rehabilitation to improve trunk stability and lower extremity muscle function. However, the effects of heel raise variation and different reformer spring resistances on muscle activation have not been fully investigated.
The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the electromyographic activity of selected trunk and lower extremity muscles during double-leg bridge and double-leg bridge with heel raise exercises performed on a mat and on a reformer with five different spring resistance levels. Thirty healthy female participants were included. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to assess the activity of the rectus abdominis, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, semimembranosus, medial gastrocnemius, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles. Muscle activity was normalized to maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC).
The results of this study may contribute to evidence-based exercise selection and optimization of reformer spring resistance for physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and Pilates applications.
- Conditions
- Healthy Volunteers (HV), Muscle Activation
- Being tested
- Bridge and Heel Raise Bridge Exercises on Mat and Reformer
- Keywords
- Double Leg Bridge, Bridge Exercise, Heel Raise Bridge, Heel Raise, Reformer Pilates, Mat Pilates, Surface Electromyography, sEMG, Muscle Activation, Trunk Muscles, Lower Extremity Muscles, Gluteus Maximus, Biceps Femoris, Semimembranosus, Gastrocnemius, Medial Gastrocnemius, Lateral Gastrocnemius, Rectus Abdominis, Core Stability, Lumbopelvic Stability
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Bridge and Heel Raise Bridge Exercises on Mat and ReformerBehavioural
Participants performed double-leg bridge and double-leg heel raise bridge exercises on a mat and on a reformer with five different spring resistance levels. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to measure the activation of the rectus abdominis, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, semimembranosus, medial gastrocnemius, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles during each exercise condition. All participants completed every exercise condition.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Intervention | Experimental | Participants performed double-leg bridge and double-leg bridge with heel raise exercises on a mat and on a reformer with different spring resistance levels. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to assess trunk and lower extremity muscle activation during all exercise conditions. Receives: Behavioral: Bridge and Heel Raise Bridge Exercises on Mat and Reformer |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Surface Electromyographic Muscle Activation (%MVIC) during bridge exercises
Surface electromyographic (%MVIC) activity of the rectus abdominis, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, semimembranosus, medial gastrocnemius and lateral gastrocnemius muscles during bridge exercises on the mat and reformer.
Measured: Baseline (single study visit)
Surface Electromyographic Muscle Activation (%MVIC) during bridge and heel raise bridge exercises
Surface electromyographic activity (%MVIC) of the rectus abdominis, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, semimembranosus, medial gastrocnemius, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles measured during bridge and heel raise bridge exercises performed on a mat and on a reformer with different spring resistance levels.
Measured: Baseline (single study visit)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Aug 2026
- Study start14 Dec 2025
- Primary completion30 Mar 2026
- Study completion30 Mar 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Healthy Volunteers (HV)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Istinye 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
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- All participants underwent all study interventions. Muscle activity was measured during bridge exercise variations performed on a mat and on a reformer with different spring resistance levels using surface electromyography (sEMG).
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istinye University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07741799
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 25-134
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 29 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 3 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- 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 3 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Heel-Raise Variations in Mat and Reformer Bridge Exercises on Muscle Activation : A Surface Electromyography Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07741799
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 25-134
- Conditions
- Healthy Volunteers (HV), Muscle Activation
- Keywords
- Double Leg Bridge, Bridge Exercise, Heel Raise Bridge, Heel Raise, Reformer Pilates, Mat Pilates, Surface Electromyography, sEMG
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Istinye UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 14 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Mar 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 3 Aug 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 aimed to compare the electromyographic (EMG) activity of trunk and lower extremity muscles during double-leg bridge and double-leg bridge with heel raise exercises performed on a mat and on a reformer with different spring resistances. Thirty healthy women participated in this interventional study. Surface EMG was used to record the activity of the rectus abdominis, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, semimembranosus, medial gastrocnemius, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles. The findings are expected to provide evidence for selecting appropriate bridge exercise variations and reformer spring resistance in physiotherapy and Pilates-based rehabilitation.
Detailed description
Bridge exercises are commonly used in physiotherapy and Pilates-based rehabilitation to improve trunk stability and lower extremity muscle function. However, the effects of heel raise variation and different reformer spring resistances on muscle activation have not been fully investigated.
The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the electromyographic activity of selected trunk and lower extremity muscles during double-leg bridge and double-leg bridge with heel raise exercises performed on a mat and on a reformer with five different spring resistance levels. Thirty healthy female participants were included. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to assess the activity of the rectus abdominis, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, semimembranosus, medial gastrocnemius, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles. Muscle activity was normalized to maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC).
The results of this study may contribute to evidence-based exercise selection and optimization of reformer spring resistance for physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and Pilates applications.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- All participants underwent all study interventions. Muscle activity was measured during bridge exercise variations performed on a mat and on a reformer with different spring resistance levels using surface electromyography (sEMG).
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: Bridge and Heel Raise Bridge Exercises on Mat and ReformerParticipants performed double-leg bridge and double-leg bridge with heel raise exercises on a mat and on a reformer with different spring resistance levels. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to assess trunk and lower extremity muscle activation during all exercise conditions. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Female participants Age between 18 and 40 years Healthy volunteers Able to perform bridge exercises Provided written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- History of spinal or lower extremity pain or surgery Neurological disorders Cardiovascular or respiratory conditions contraindicating exercise Pregnancy or less than 6 months postpartum Skin lesions preventing sEMG electrode placement Use of medications affecting neuromuscular function Postural deformities affecting exercise performance Musculoskeletal disorders affecting trunk or lower extremities
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge and Heel Raise Bridge Exercises on Mat and ReformerParticipants performed double-leg bridge and double-leg heel raise bridge exercises on a mat and on a reformer with five different spring resistance levels. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to measure the activation of the rectus abdominis, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, semimembranosus, medial gastrocnemius, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles during each exercise condition. All participants completed every exercise condition. | Behavioural | Exercise Intervention |
Primary outcome
Surface Electromyographic Muscle Activation (%MVIC) during bridge exercises
Time frame: Baseline (single study visit)
Surface electromyographic (%MVIC) activity of the rectus abdominis, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, semimembranosus, medial gastrocnemius and lateral gastrocnemius muscles during bridge exercises on the mat and reformer.
Surface Electromyographic Muscle Activation (%MVIC) during bridge and heel raise bridge exercises
Time frame: Baseline (single study visit)
Surface electromyographic activity (%MVIC) of the rectus abdominis, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, semimembranosus, medial gastrocnemius, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles measured during bridge and heel raise bridge exercises performed on a mat and on a reformer with different spring resistance levels.
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 3 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Healthy Volunteers (HV)
RecruitingObservational study
Imaging Techniques in MRI
Cardiac Risk Factors, Healthy
RecruitingObservational study
Collection of Lung Fluid and Tissue Samples for Research
Leukocyte Disorders, Respiratory Tract Diseases
RecruitingObservational study
Screening for LID Clinical Studies Unit Healthy Volunteer Protocols
Zika, Influenza
RecruitingObservational study
Development of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques for Studying Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders
RecruitingObservational study
Defining the Brain Phenotype of Children With Williams Syndrome
Williams Syndrome, Duplication
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 Bridge and Heel Raise Bridge Exercises on Mat and Reformer in people with Healthy Volunteers (HV) and Muscle Activation, run by Istinye University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 1 inclusion and 1 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 3 Aug 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 Turkey (Türkiye). 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?
Surface Electromyographic Muscle Activation (%MVIC) during bridge exercises (time frame: Baseline (single study visit)). 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 3 Aug 2026.