Muscle Activations During Bulgarian Split Squat Exercise Variations

NCT ID: NCT06112015

Last Updated: 2024-12-05

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 21 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-07-01
• Study Completion Date: 2023-05-30

Brief Summary

It is essential to practice and train appropriate activation techniques to ensure optimum strength development. Knowing the effects of exercise variations that will minimize the tension forces acting on the knee by increasing the activation of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex muscles, which are critical during sports activities, is extremely important in terms of preventing injuries. The aim of this study is to compare muscular activations during traditional and suspension-based Bulgarian split squat exercises and to examine the effect of trunk position on muscular activations.

Detailed Description

This study utilized a single-group repeated-measures design, where 4 conditions-Bugarian split squat with trunk flexion (BSS flexion), Bulgarian Split squat with trunk neutral (BSS neutral), suspension based Bulgarian split squat with trunk flexion (SBSS flexion), suspension based Bulgarian split squat with trunk neutral (SBSS neutral)-were examined.Participants had to make two separate trips to the lab in order to be accepted into the study. All exercises were introduced to participants at the initial visit. Prior to beginning the exercises on the second visit, the participants' maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) values were calculated. The muscle activity of the gluteus medius (GMed), gluteus maximus (GMax), vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), semitendinosus (ST), biceps femoris (BF),and erector spina (ES) was monitored through the root mean square surface EMG signal amplitude. The order of the tasks was chosen for each person by straightforward randomization (by selecting from a deck of shuffled cards) so order to reduce the impact of the sequence of the exercises.The modified Borg scale was used to ensure that fatigue did not occur before each exercise since it was believed that fatigue could affect exercise performance.

Conditions

Sports Physical Therapy

Keywords

Electromyography; Exercise Theraphy

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: DIAGNOSTIC
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

female athletes

21 female athletes from different branches performed 4 different sessions of Bulgarian split squat exercises.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Bulgarian split squat exercise variations

Intervention Type: OTHER

The participants performed 4 different sessions of Bulgarian split squat exercises-Bulgarian split squat with trunk flexion (BSS flexion), Bulgarian Split squat with trunk neutral (BSS neutral), suspension based Bulgarian split squat with trunk flexion (SBSS flexion), suspension based Bulgarian split squat with trunk neutral (SBSS neutral)-with EMG recordings being taken from the dominant extremity throughout each session. For each exercise, participants were instructed to perform three successful repetitions. Between each repetition, there was a 30-second break, and there was at least 10 minutes in between each of the 4 exercises. The movement was standardized by a metronome. The modified Borg scale was used to ensure that fatigue did not occur before each exercise since it was believed that fatigue could affect exercise performance. When scores reported using the modified Borg scale were 1 or lower, exercise recording was started.

Interventions

Bulgarian split squat exercise variations

The participants performed 4 different sessions of Bulgarian split squat exercises-Bulgarian split squat with trunk flexion (BSS flexion), Bulgarian Split squat with trunk neutral (BSS neutral), suspension based Bulgarian split squat with trunk flexion (SBSS flexion), suspension based Bulgarian split squat with trunk neutral (SBSS neutral)-with EMG recordings being taken from the dominant extremity throughout each session. For each exercise, participants were instructed to perform three successful repetitions. Between each repetition, there was a 30-second break, and there was at least 10 minutes in between each of the 4 exercises. The movement was standardized by a metronome. The modified Borg scale was used to ensure that fatigue did not occur before each exercise since it was believed that fatigue could affect exercise performance. When scores reported using the modified Borg scale were 1 or lower, exercise recording was started.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Being a licensed athlete in one's own field,
• Having been engaged in sports for at least 2 years

Exclusion Criteria

• Individuals with any musculoskeletal injury history in the lower extremities and trunk that could impede exercise within the last year,
• Individuals with systemic, neurological, and/or cognitive issues,
• Individuals experiencing pain in the lower extremities and trunk during exercises

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 25 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Gazi University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Ordu University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Elif AYGUN POLAT

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Elif AYGUN POLAT

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Ordu University

Nevin A. GUZEL

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Gazi University

Sonay GURUHAN

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Gazi University

Nihan KAFA

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Gazi University

Locations

Ordu University

Ordu, , Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

References

Aygun-Polat E, Guzel NA, Guruhan S, Polat Y, Karatas N. Targeted muscle activation in Bulgarian split squat variations: effects of trunk position and suspension-based execution. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Aug 27;17(1):251. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01306-z.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 40867012 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

ODU-SBFTR-AYGUNPOLAT

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id