Effects of Heavy Back-Squat PAPE on Jump and Repeated Sprint Performance in Trained Soccer Players

July 29, 2026 updated by: Abdullah Demirli, Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

The PAPE Paradox During Prolonged Repeated Sprint Performance: Acute Heavy Back-Squat Potentiates Vertical Jump and Early Sprint Performance But Impairs Overall Output-A Randomized Crossover Trial in Trained Soccer Players

This study examined whether performing heavy back squats before exercise affects jumping ability and repeated sprint performance in trained soccer players. Twenty male university soccer players completed two testing sessions in a randomized crossover design. In one session, participants performed a standardized warm-up only. In the other session, they performed the same warm-up followed by three sets of three back-squat repetitions at 90% of their one-repetition maximum. The two sessions were separated by one week. After each condition, participants completed a countermovement jump test and an 18 × 40-meter repeated sprint test. The study aimed to determine whether the heavy back-squat activity improves early explosive performance and whether it increases fatigue during prolonged repeated sprint exercise.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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 (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.
20

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 Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Istanbul
      • Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34320
        • İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa

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:

  • Male soccer players aged 20-23 years.
  • Currently competing in the top division of a university soccer league.
  • A minimum of three years of regular soccer training experience.
  • Free from long-term musculoskeletal injury during the previous six months.
  • Willing and able to complete all familiarization, strength-testing, and experimental sessions.
  • Provision of written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • A musculoskeletal injury resulting in an absence from training or competition for 21 days or longer during the previous six months.
  • Use of medications or nutritional or ergogenic supplements that could affect exercise performance.
  • Any health or physical condition preventing safe participation in heavy back-squat, countermovement jump, or repeated sprint testing.
  • Failure to complete both experimental conditions.

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: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Single

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: Control-PAPE Sequence
Participants first completed the Control condition, consisting of a standardized warm-up without an additional conditioning activity. After a one-week washout period, participants completed the PAPE condition, consisting of the same standardized warm-up followed by three sets of three back-squat repetitions at 90% of one-repetition maximum, with 3 minutes of passive recovery between sets. Countermovement jump and repeated sprint performance were assessed after each condition.
Behavioral: Heavy Back-Squat PAPE Protocol
Participants completed a standardized warm-up followed by a heavy back-squat conditioning activity consisting of three sets of three repetitions at 90% of one-repetition maximum. Three minutes of passive recovery were provided between sets. Countermovement jump performance was assessed approximately 4.5-5 minutes after the final squat set, immediately before the repeated sprint test.
Behavioral: Standardized Warm-Up Control Condition
Participants completed a standardized warm-up consisting of 5 minutes of jogging, followed by 10 bodyweight squats, 10 lunges, and 10 lateral shuffles. No additional conditioning activity was performed. After approximately 5 minutes of passive recovery, countermovement jump performance was assessed immediately before the repeated sprint test.
Experimental: PAPE-Control Sequence
Participants first completed the PAPE condition, consisting of a standardized warm-up followed by three sets of three back-squat repetitions at 90% of one-repetition maximum, with 3 minutes of passive recovery between sets. After a one-week washout period, participants completed the Control condition, consisting of the same standardized warm-up without an additional conditioning activity. Countermovement jump and repeated sprint performance were assessed after each condition.
Behavioral: Heavy Back-Squat PAPE Protocol
Participants completed a standardized warm-up followed by a heavy back-squat conditioning activity consisting of three sets of three repetitions at 90% of one-repetition maximum. Three minutes of passive recovery were provided between sets. Countermovement jump performance was assessed approximately 4.5-5 minutes after the final squat set, immediately before the repeated sprint test.
Behavioral: Standardized Warm-Up Control Condition
Participants completed a standardized warm-up consisting of 5 minutes of jogging, followed by 10 bodyweight squats, 10 lunges, and 10 lateral shuffles. No additional conditioning activity was performed. After approximately 5 minutes of passive recovery, countermovement jump performance was assessed immediately before the repeated sprint test.

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
Repeated Sprint Performance Decrement
Time Frame: During the 18 × 40-meter repeated sprint test, which lasted approximately 15 minutes and was completed within each of two experimental sessions lasting approximately 25-35 minutes; the sessions were separated by a 1-week washout period.
Percentage decline in repeated sprint performance calculated from sprint times recorded during an 18 × 40-meter shuttle sprint test. The protocol consisted of three sets of six 40-meter shuttle sprints, with 20 seconds of passive recovery between sprints and 4 minutes of passive recovery between sets. Lower percentage values indicate better maintenance of sprint performance and less fatigue.
During the 18 × 40-meter repeated sprint test, which lasted approximately 15 minutes and was completed within each of two experimental sessions lasting approximately 25-35 minutes; the sessions were separated by a 1-week washout period.
Countermovement Jump Height
Time Frame: At approximately 5 minutes after the assigned condition, within each of two experimental sessions lasting approximately 25-35 minutes; the sessions were separated by a 1-week washout period.
Maximum countermovement jump height measured in centimeters using the Optojump Next optical measurement system. Participants performed three maximal countermovement jump trials with their hands positioned on their hips and 60 seconds of passive recovery between trials. The highest jump height was used for analysis. Higher values indicate better jump performance.
At approximately 5 minutes after the assigned condition, within each of two experimental sessions lasting approximately 25-35 minutes; the sessions were separated by a 1-week washout period.

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
Mean Repeated Sprint Time
Time Frame: During the 18 × 40-meter repeated sprint test, which lasted approximately 15 minutes and was completed within each of two experimental sessions lasting approximately 25-35 minutes; the sessions were separated by a 1-week washout period.
Mean sprint time, measured in seconds, calculated across all 18 repetitions of the 40-meter shuttle sprint test. Sprint times were recorded using a photocell timing system. Lower values indicate better repeated sprint performance.
During the 18 × 40-meter repeated sprint test, which lasted approximately 15 minutes and was completed within each of two experimental sessions lasting approximately 25-35 minutes; the sessions were separated by a 1-week washout period.
Best Sprint Time
Time Frame: During the 18 × 40-meter repeated sprint test, which lasted approximately 15 minutes and was completed within each of two experimental sessions lasting approximately 25-35 minutes; the sessions were separated by a 1-week washout period.
The fastest sprint time, measured in seconds, recorded among the 18 repetitions of the 40-meter shuttle sprint test using a photocell timing system. Lower values indicate better sprint performance.
During the 18 × 40-meter repeated sprint test, which lasted approximately 15 minutes and was completed within each of two experimental sessions lasting approximately 25-35 minutes; the sessions were separated by a 1-week washout period.
Worst Sprint Time
Time Frame: During the 18 × 40-meter repeated sprint test, which lasted approximately 15 minutes and was completed within each of two experimental sessions lasting approximately 25-35 minutes; the sessions were separated by a 1-week washout period.
The slowest sprint time, measured in seconds, recorded among the 18 repetitions of the 40-meter shuttle sprint test using a photocell timing system. Lower values indicate better sprint performance.
During the 18 × 40-meter repeated sprint test, which lasted approximately 15 minutes and was completed within each of two experimental sessions lasting approximately 25-35 minutes; the sessions were separated by a 1-week washout period.
Sprint Time Across Individual Repetitions
Time Frame: During each repetition of the 18 × 40-meter repeated sprint test, which lasted approximately 15 minutes and was completed within each of two experimental sessions lasting approximately 25-35 minutes; the sessions were separated by a 1-week washout period
Sprint time, measured in seconds, for each of the 18 individual 40-meter shuttle sprint repetitions. Sprint-by-sprint values were used to evaluate changes in performance during the early repetitions (sprints 1-3), middle repetitions (sprints 4-8), and later repetitions (sprints 9-18). Lower values indicate faster sprint performance.
During each repetition of the 18 × 40-meter repeated sprint test, which lasted approximately 15 minutes and was completed within each of two experimental sessions lasting approximately 25-35 minutes; the sessions were separated by a 1-week washout period

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.
Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

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 (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.
December 20, 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.
February 15, 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.
February 15, 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 26, 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 29, 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 30, 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 30, 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 29, 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

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.
  • PAPE-RSA-2025-01

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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