Comparison of the Effects of Free Weight and Machine-Based Exercises on Muscular Parameters

March 21, 2026 updated by: Begum Kara Kaya, Biruni University

Comparison of Free Weight and Machine-Based Exercise Effects on Muscular Parameters

The aim of our study is to compare and investigate the effects of resistance exercises performed with free weights and those performed using machine systems on muscular parameters and neuromuscular control.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
26

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Zeytinburnu
      • Istanbul, Zeytinburnu, Turkey (Türkiye), 34015
        • Biruni University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Being an individual between the ages of 18-30 years
  • Being physically inactive according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form (<600 MET-min/week)
  • Residing in Istanbul
  • Voluntary participation in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Having a neurological or cardiopulmonary system problem that prevents exercise.
  • Having mental dysfunction.
  • Having an acute musculoskeletal injury which limits exercise participant
  • Being pregnant.
  • Having answered "YES" to any question on the Exercise Readiness Questionnaire.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Free Weight Resistance Exercise Group
Other: Free Weight-Based Resistance Training Group
Participants will perform supervised resistance exercises using free weights (dumbbells and barbell), including biceps curl, squat, and bench press, at an intensity of 60-80% of one-repetition maximum (1RM), 2 sets of 8-12 repetitions, 3 times per week for 8 weeks.
Experimental: Machine-Based Resistance Exercise Group
Device: Machine-Based Resistance Exercise Group
Participants will perform supervised resistance exercises using weight machines (including machine-based biceps curl, squat, and bench press) at an intensity of 60-80% of one-repetition maximum (1RM), 2 sets of 8-12 repetitions, 3 times per week for 8 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Muscle Strength
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Maximal voluntary strength of major muscle groups (upper and lower extremity) will be measured using 1-repetition maximum (1RM) tests for biceps curl, squat, and bench press. The heaviest weight that can be lifted once with proper form is recorded. Higher values indicate greater muscle strength.
8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Muscular Endurance - Upper Extremity
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Upper extremity endurance will be assessed using the push-up test. Participants perform as many correct repetitions as possible within 1 minute. Higher repetitions indicate greater muscular endurance.
8 weeks
Muscular Endurance - Lower Extremity
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Lower extremity endurance will be assessed using the squat test. Participants perform as many correct repetitions as possible in one minute period. Higher repetitions indicate better muscular endurance.
8 weeks
Neuromuscular Control - Upper Extremity
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Upper extremity neuromuscular control will be measured using the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test. Participants perform hand touches over a marked line in 15 seconds. The average number of successful touches over 3 trials is recorded; higher scores indicate better neuromuscular control.
8 weeks
Neuromuscular Control - Lower Extremity
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Lower extremity neuromuscular control will be measured using the Y-Balance Test. Participants maintain balance on one leg while reaching with the other leg in three directions (anterior, posteromedial, posterolateral). Average reach distances over 3 trials are recorded. Greater distances indicate better neuromuscular control.
8 weeks
Proprioception - Knee Joint
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Knee joint position sense will be assessed using digital goniometry at 15° and 60° flexion. Participants reproduce target angles with eyes closed. Absolute angular error in degrees is recorded; lower errors indicate better proprioception
8 weeks
Proprioception - Elbow Joint
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Elbow joint position sense will be assessed using digital goniometry at 30°, 60°, and 90° flexion. Absolute angular error is recorded; lower values indicate better proprioception.
8 weeks
Participant Satisfaction and Perceived Change
Time Frame: Post-intervention (after 8 weeks)
Global Rating of Change (GROC) scale will be used. Participants rate perceived improvement after the exercise program on a 7-point numerical scale. Higher scores indicate greater perceived improvement.
Post-intervention (after 8 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Biruni University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 23, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 21, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 21, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 21, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • St Project

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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