Physical PerformanceNCT07850115
Effect of Eccentric Training on Ankle Plantar Flexor Strength in Recreationally Resistance-Trained Adults
A study testing Modified Alfredson-Based Eccentric Heel-Drop Training and Horizontal Leg-Press Eccentric Training in people with Physical Performance, run by Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education at 2 sites in Poland.
Trial summary
This study compared the effects of two 6-week eccentric plantar-flexor training programs on loaded heel-rise performance in cecreational strength-training adults. Forty participants were randomly assigned to either a modified heel-drop training group or a horizontal leg-press training group. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Physical Performance
- What is being tested?
- Modified Alfredson-Based Eccentric Heel-Drop Training and Horizontal Leg-Press Eccentric Training
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesPoland
- Study dates
- 18 Jan 2024to 1 Sep 2024
- 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 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Being of legal age
- Providing informed consent to participate in the study
- Declaring no health contraindications to physical activity
- Engaging in recreational-level strength training
Who cannot join
- Professional participation in any sports discipline
- Current injuries in the lower limbs
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
Poland2 sites
Zdrofit Arkadia
Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, 00-175
Zdrofit Bemowo Świetlików
Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, 01-389
About this study
Official title: Results of Two Eccentric Plantar-Flexor Training Modalities on Loaded Heel-Rise Performance in Recreational Strength-Training Adults: A Randomized Trial
This study compared the effects of two 6-week eccentric plantar-flexor training programs on loaded heel-rise performance in cecreational strength-training adults. Forty participants were randomly assigned to either a modified heel-drop training group or a horizontal leg-press training group. Both groups trained three times per week for 6 weeks. Loaded heel-rise performance was assessed at baseline and after 2, 4, and 6 weeks of training. The primary outcome was the highest external load with which participants could complete five technically correct repetitions of the assigned unilateral plantar-flexor exercise.
- Conditions
- Physical Performance
- Being tested
- Modified Alfredson-Based Eccentric Heel-Drop Training, Horizontal Leg-Press Eccentric Training
- Keywords
- Eccentric training, Plantar Flexors, strengh, Resistance Training
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Modified Alfredson-Based Eccentric Heel-Drop TrainingOther
Participants completed a 6-week eccentric plantar-flexor training programme based on a modified Alfredson protocol, with three training sessions per week. Each session consisted of three sets of five repetitions. The exercise was performed in a standing position on a 9-cm step. The right lower limb performed the concentric phase, while the left lower limb performed the eccentric phase. External load was provided using dumbbells placed in a backpack and was individually adjusted using the 0-10 Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale.
Horizontal Leg-Press Eccentric TrainingOther
Participants completed a 6-week eccentric plantar-flexor training programme using a computer-controlled horizontal leg press, with three training sessions per week. Each session consisted of three sets of five repetitions. The exercise was performed in a sitting position. The right lower limb performed the concentric phase, while the left lower limb performed the eccentric phase. External resistance was generated by independently controlled electric motors and was individually adjusted using the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Heel-Drop Group | Experimental | Participants completed a 6-week eccentric plantar-flexor training programme based on a modified Alfredson protocol. Training was performed three times per week, with three sets of five repetitions per session. The exercise was performed in a standing position using a step, with external load provided by dumbbells placed in a backpack. Training intensity was individually adjusted using the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale. Receives: Other: Modified Alfredson-Based Eccentric Heel-Drop Training |
| Horizontal Leg-Press (HLP) Group | Experimental | Participants completed a 6-week eccentric plantar-flexor training programme using a computer-controlled horizontal leg press. Training was performed three times per week, with three sets of five repetitions per session. The exercise was performed in a sitting position, and external resistance was generated by independently controlled electric motors. Training intensity was individually adjusted using the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale. Receives: Other: Horizontal Leg-Press Eccentric Training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Highest External Load During the Five-Repetition Unilateral Heel-Rise Task
The outcome was the highest external load (kg) with which the participant could complete five technically correct repetitions of the assigned unilateral plantar-flexor exercise. Participants performed the heel-rise task using the same exercise modality as their assigned training group.
Measured: Baseline and after 2, 4, and 6 weeks of training
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Sep 2026
- Study start18 Jan 2024
- Primary completion1 Sep 2024
- Study completion1 Sep 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Physical PerformanceStudies 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
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to one of two parallel intervention groups: a modified Alfredson-based heel-drop training group or a horizontal leg-press eccentric training group. Both groups completed a 6-week training programme.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Dawid Micek, Principal investigator, Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in WarsawAleksandra Truszczyńska-Baszak, Prof., Study chair, Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07850115
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ECC2025
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 24 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 1 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: The datasets and the study protocol are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Results of Two Eccentric Plantar-Flexor Training Modalities on Loaded Heel-Rise Performance in Recreational Strength-Training Adults: A Randomized Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07850115
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ECC2025
- Conditions
- Physical Performance
- Keywords
- Eccentric training, Plantar Flexors, strengh, Resistance Training
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Józef Piłsudski University of Physical EducationUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 18 Jan 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Sep 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Sep 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 30 Sep 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 compared the effects of two 6-week eccentric plantar-flexor training programs on loaded heel-rise performance in cecreational strength-training adults. Forty participants were randomly assigned to either a modified heel-drop training group or a horizontal leg-press training group. Both groups trained three times per week for 6 weeks. Loaded heel-rise performance was assessed at baseline and after 2, 4, and 6 weeks of training. The primary outcome was the highest external load with which participants could complete five technically correct repetitions of the assigned unilateral plantar-flexor exercise.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to one of two parallel intervention groups: a modified Alfredson-based heel-drop training group or a horizontal leg-press eccentric training group. Both groups completed a 6-week training programme.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Heel-Drop Group | Experimental | Other: Modified Alfredson-Based Eccentric Heel-Drop TrainingParticipants completed a 6-week eccentric plantar-flexor training programme based on a modified Alfredson protocol. Training was performed three times per week, with three sets of five repetitions per session. The exercise was performed in a standing position using a step, with external load provided by dumbbells placed in a backpack. Training intensity was individually adjusted using the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale. |
| Horizontal Leg-Press (HLP) Group | Experimental | Other: Horizontal Leg-Press Eccentric TrainingParticipants completed a 6-week eccentric plantar-flexor training programme using a computer-controlled horizontal leg press. Training was performed three times per week, with three sets of five repetitions per session. The exercise was performed in a sitting position, and external resistance was generated by independently controlled electric motors. Training intensity was individually adjusted using the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Being of legal age
- Providing informed consent to participate in the study
- Declaring no health contraindications to physical activity
- Engaging in recreational-level strength training
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Professional participation in any sports discipline
- Current injuries in the lower limbs
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Modified Alfredson-Based Eccentric Heel-Drop TrainingParticipants completed a 6-week eccentric plantar-flexor training programme based on a modified Alfredson protocol, with three training sessions per week. Each session consisted of three sets of five repetitions. The exercise was performed in a standing position on a 9-cm step. The right lower limb performed the concentric phase, while the left lower limb performed the eccentric phase. External load was provided using dumbbells placed in a backpack and was individually adjusted using the 0-10 Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale. | Other | Heel-Drop Group |
| Horizontal Leg-Press Eccentric TrainingParticipants completed a 6-week eccentric plantar-flexor training programme using a computer-controlled horizontal leg press, with three training sessions per week. Each session consisted of three sets of five repetitions. The exercise was performed in a sitting position. The right lower limb performed the concentric phase, while the left lower limb performed the eccentric phase. External resistance was generated by independently controlled electric motors and was individually adjusted using the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale. | Other | Horizontal Leg-Press (HLP) Group |
Primary outcome
Highest External Load During the Five-Repetition Unilateral Heel-Rise Task
Time frame: Baseline and after 2, 4, and 6 weeks of training
The outcome was the highest external load (kg) with which the participant could complete five technically correct repetitions of the assigned unilateral plantar-flexor exercise. Participants performed the heel-rise task using the same exercise modality as their assigned training group.
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 1 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. The datasets and the study protocol are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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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.
Dawid Micek principal investigator
Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw
Aleksandra Truszczyńska-Baszak, Prof. study chair
Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Modified Alfredson-Based Eccentric Heel-Drop Training and Horizontal Leg-Press Eccentric Training in people with Physical Performance, run by Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education at 2 sites 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 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 1 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites 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?
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?
Highest External Load During the Five-Repetition Unilateral Heel-Rise Task (time frame: Baseline and after 2, 4, and 6 weeks of training). 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 1 Oct 2026.