Feasibility of Velocity Loss-Based Volume Prescription During Constant-Load and Chain-Based Smith Machine Back Squats

July 18, 2026 updated by: Zongwei Chen, South China Normal University
The goal of this observational study was to evaluate the feasibility of percentage of velocity loss (%VL)-based approaches for prescribing training volume during constant-load and chain-based Smith machine back squats. The study aimed to answer whether %VL can be expressed as the maximum number of repetitions (%Rep) in constant-load and chain-based Smith machine squats. Twenty-six resistance-trained men performed repetitions-to-failure tests under variable (VRT) and constant resistance training (CRT). The %Rep attained before reaching different levels of effort were compared between VRT and CRT across various loads and sessions. Furthermore, this study evaluated the influence of different factors on the predictive accuracy of the %Rep-%VL relationships. These findings will provide evidence-based evidence in prescribing and monitoring intra-set volume.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

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Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

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Detailed Description

The goal of this observational study was to evaluate the feasibility of percentage of velocity loss (%VL)-based approaches for prescribing training volume during constant-load and chain-based Smith machine back squats. The study aimed to answer whether %VL can be expressed as the maximum number of repetitions (%Rep) in constant-load and chain-based Smith machine squats. Twenty-six resistance-trained men performed repetitions-to-failure tests at 85%, 75%, and 65% of their constant-load one-repetition maximum (1RM) under variable (VRT; 40% of the total external load provided by chains) and constant resistance training (CRT; 0% chains). The %Rep attained before reaching low (10% VL), moderate (20% VL), and high (30% VL) levels of effort were compared between VRT and CRT across various loads and sessions. Furthermore, this study evaluated the influence of regression type (individual vs. general), load specificity (load-specific vs. multiple-load), and loading configuration (CRT vs. VRT) on the predictive accuracy of the %Rep-%VL relationships established in session 1 for estimating %Rep in session 2. These findings will provide evidence-based evidence in prescribing and monitoring intra-set volume.

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.
Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

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

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

  • China
    • Guangdong
      • Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, 510006
        • School of Physical Education and Sports Science, South China Normal 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
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participant characteristics (mean ± standard deviation [range]) included: age, 20.4 ± 2.1 (18-25) years; body height, 1.78 ± 0.05 (1.68-1.87) m; body mass, 71.7 ± 7.5 (60.0-91.4) kg; training experience, 3.5 ± 1.8 (1-10) years; and constant-load 1RM, 135.4 ± 17.4 (95-163) kg, corresponding to 1.89 ± 0.21 (1.58-2.28) times body mass.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • at least 1 year of resistance training experience, performing back squats at least once per week.
  • proficiency in the Smith machine back squat executed at maximal intended velocity.
  • a constant-load 1RM of ≥ 1.5 times their body mass.
  • no reported musculoskeletal injuries in the past three months.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Voluntary withdrawal or injury.
  • Not satisfied with inclusion label.

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

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
The %Rep attained before reaching the 10%, 20%, and 30% VL thresholds
Time Frame: April 1st, 2026
The %Rep attained before reaching the 10%, 20%, and 30% VL thresholds was recorded across all loads, sessions, and loading configurations.
April 1st, 2026
The %rep predictive accuracy
Time Frame: April 1st, 2026
To assess predictive accuracy, second-order polynomial regression equations were generated from the first session of each loading configuration using all repetitions within a set, setting %Rep as the dependent variable and %VL as the independent variable. These equations were constructed using different regression types (individual vs. general), load specificities (load-specific vs. multiple-load), and loading configurations (CRT vs. VRT). During the second session, the actual %VL recorded after reaching the 10%, 20%, and 30% VL thresholds was substituted into the corresponding first-session equations to derive the predicted %Rep. Then, the absolute estimation error was calculated as (|actual %Rep - predicted %Rep|). In cases where muscular failure occurred before a specific %VL threshold was reached (e.g., 30% VL), the %VL of the final completed repetition was recorded, and the corresponding actual %Rep was defined as 100%.
April 1st, 2026

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.
South China Normal University

Publications and helpful links

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Helpful Links

Study record dates

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Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

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.
October 7, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

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.
January 10, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

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.
May 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).
July 15, 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.
July 18, 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.
July 22, 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.
July 22, 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.
July 18, 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.
July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

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.
  • SCNU-SPT-2025-055

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Individual participant data and supporting documents will become available after publication of the study results and will remain available for 5 years.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Individual participant data (IPD) will be shared in anonymized form with qualified researchers for scientific purposes. The shared data will include lifting velocity of each repetition completed.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • CSR

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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