Deep Squat, Cross-Legged Sitting and Low Back Pain

September 16, 2025 updated by: Ladislav Batalik

The Effect of Deep Squat and Cross-Legged Sitting on Range of Motion, Pain, and Visceral Functions in Participants With Low Back Pain: A Randomized Experimental Study

The goal of this randomized experimental study is to learn if regular deep squat or cross-legged sitting practice can improve mobility, reduce pain, and enhance visceral functions in adults with chronic low back pain (LBP). The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does practicing deep squat or cross-legged sitting increase joint mobility (hip, spine, ankle) and flexibility? Does it reduce pain levels in the lumbar spine and hip region? Does it improve visceral functions related to digestion and bowel movements? Researchers will compare a deep squat group, a cross-legged sitting group, and a control group to see if these interventions lead to significant improvements in mobility, pain reduction, and visceral function compared to no intervention.

Participants will:

Be randomly assigned to one of three groups (deep squat, cross-legged sitting, or control).

Practice their assigned position for 20 minutes per day, 6 days a week, for 6 weeks.

Undergo baseline and post-intervention assessments, including mobility tests, pain evaluation, and quality-of-life questionnaires.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This randomized experimental study explores the effects of deep squat and cross-legged sitting practice on musculoskeletal mobility, pain perception, and visceral functions in adults with chronic low back pain (LBP). By examining these interventions over a six-week period, the study seeks to determine their potential role as non-pharmacological strategies for managing chronic pain and mobility limitations.

Participants will receive structured guidance to ensure proper execution of the assigned positions and adherence to the intervention protocol. Standardized assessments will be conducted before and after the intervention to evaluate changes in joint mobility, flexibility, pain levels, and quality of life.

The study is designed to contribute to evidence-based rehabilitation practices, offering insights into how simple, posture-based exercises might improve physical function and well-being. Findings may have implications for physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and self-management strategies in individuals with chronic LBP.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

36

Phase

  • 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

  • Czechia
      • Brno, Czechia
        • University Hospital Brno

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • age 20-60 years, chronic lower back or hip pain lasting at least 3 months, presence of bowel problems at least twice a month for at least 3 months)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • acute health problem, pregnancy, hip or knee TEP, patellofemoral syndrome or recent lower limb surgery

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: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Deep Squat
Participants in this experimental group will perform deep squat position daily (20 minutes, 6 days per week) for 6 weeks.
Other: Deep Squat position

Participants assigned to the deep squat group will perform a cumulative total of 20 minutes of deep squatting per day, six days a week, for six weeks. The squatting time can be divided into multiple shorter sessions throughout the day, with a maximum interval of 48 hours between sessions. Participants will be instructed to maintain an upright posture with heels on the ground, feet shoulder-width apart, and knees aligned with toes. They will be encouraged to gradually increase their squat duration and comfort over time.

Before starting the intervention, participants will receive standardized instructions on proper squat form to ensure safety and maximize benefits. Their compliance will be monitored through a training diary in the experimental (Tulkit) app.
Experimental: Cross-Legged Sitting
Participants in this experimental group will perform cross legged position daily (20 minutes, 6 days per week) for 6 weeks.
Other: Cross-legged Sitting

Participants assigned to the cross-legged sitting group will perform a cumulative total of 20 minutes of cross-legged sitting per day, six days a week, for six weeks. The squatting time can be divided into multiple shorter sessions throughout the day, with a maximum interval of 48 hours between sessions. Participants will be instructed to maintain an upright posture while sitting. They will be encouraged to gradually increase their cross-legged sitting duration and comfort over time.

Before starting the intervention, participants will receive standardized instructions on proper sitting form to ensure safety and maximize benefits. Their compliance will be monitored through a training diary in the experimental (Tulkit) app.
No Intervention: Control
Participants in this control group won't have any intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Visual Analogue Scale for Pain (VAS)
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 6 weeks
A scale for measuring the intensity or frequency of pain.
Change from baseline to 6 weeks
WBLT (The Weight-bearing lunge test)
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 6 weeks
The Weight-bearing lunge test (WBLT) is used to assess the dorsiflexion range of movement at the ankle joint.
Change from baseline to 6 weeks
36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36)
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 6 weeks
SF-36 is a set of generic, coherent, and easily administered quality-of-life measures.
Change from baseline to 6 weeks
The Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) questionnaire
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 6 weeks
PAC-QOL is the most validated and the most specific tool for measuring the quality of life of patients with constipation.
Change from baseline to 6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Goniometry
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 6 weeks
Measuring the range of movement (ROM) in hip joints.
Change from baseline to 6 weeks
Sitting-rising test
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 6 weeks
Clinical test which provides a significant and efficient prediction of mortality risk in the elderly. It measure the ability to sit and rise up with minimum support.
Change from baseline to 6 weeks
Sit and reach test
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 6 weeks
The sit and reach test measures flexibility by having a person sit with their legs straight and reaching forward as far as possible. The distance reached is recorded to assess flexibility, with longer reaches indicating greater flexibility.
Change from baseline to 6 weeks
Patrick (FABER) test
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 6 weeks
Clinical pain provocation test designed to assist in diagnosing of pathologies in the hip, lumbar spine, and sacroiliac joint.
Change from baseline to 6 weeks
Schober test
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 6 weeks
The Schober test is classically used to determine if there is a decrease in lumbar spine range of motion (flexion).
Change from baseline to 6 weeks
Stibor test
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 6 weeks
The Stibor test is classically used to determine if there is a decrease in lumbar and thoracic spine range of motion (flexion).
Change from baseline to 6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Ladislav Batalik

Investigators

  • Study Director: Adéla Haňurová, BSc., LF MUNI

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)

March 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 15, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

September 15, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 25, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 25, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

February 28, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

September 19, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 16, 2025

Last Verified

September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • FT-2025-SQUAT-AH

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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