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

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: Completed
• Conditions: Post-activation Performance Enhancement and Repeated Sprint Performance in Trained Soccer Players
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Heavy Back-Squat PAPE Protocol; Behavioral: Standardized Warm-Up Control Condition

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

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

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• 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

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
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

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Repeated Sprint Performance Decrement	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	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

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Mean Repeated Sprint Time	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	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	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	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

• Sponsor: Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 20, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): February 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 26, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 29, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 30, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 30, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 29, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID 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