Comparison of the Effectiveness of Two Different Squat Exercises in Healthy Individuals

Effects of Two Different Squat Exercise Patterns on Low Back Pain, Pressure Pain Threshold, Balance and Jump Performance in Young Adult Healthy Individuals

The aim of our study is to compare the effects of two different squatting patterns, with and without the knees passing the toes, on low back pain, muscle strength and balance.

A total of 60 volunteer participants between the ages of 18-30, who are in the active category of the International Physical Activity Assessment Questionnaire Short Form, are planned to be included in the study. Individuals participating in the study will be divided into 3 groups using using unrestricted (simple) randomization. A random number was generated for each participant with the random-number functions of Microsoft Excel and participants were ordered by that number and assigned to the three groups. No blocking or stratification was used and no formal allocation-concealment mechanism (such as sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes) was implemented. Group I (n=20); squatting with the knees passing the toes (PI), Group II (n=20); squatting with the knees not passing the toes (PG) and Group III (n=20); control group (CG). Squatting with the knees passing the toes (PI); squatting with the knees not passing the toes (PG) will be applied to the study groups as a home program for 6 weeks and will be checked with an exercise diary. Participants will be re-evaluated at the end of the exercise program. No training program will be applied to the control group and they will be asked to continue their daily lives and participants will be evaluated at 6-week intervals. The training program of 1 set; 20 repetitions; 30 seconds active contraction/30 seconds rest is applied to the PI and PG groups 3 days a week, every other day for 6 weeks. The training program of the groups is monitored by a physiotherapist for 6 weeks via telerehabilitation technologies. All participants will be evaluated for back pain, knee pain, pressure pain threshold, low-back-related disability, self-reported knee function, dynamic balance, perceived exertion, and vertical-jump flight time, function and balance before and at the end of the program and the data obtained will be recorded.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being between the ages of 18-30,
• According to International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form Being physically active
• Not having any psychological, neurological, orthopedic and rheumatic disorders,
• Not having a history of fractures or surgeries affecting the lower extremities in the last year,
• Being able to do at least one traditional squat exercise
• Being able to communicate in Turkish (written and verbal) Exclusion criteria
• Being pregnant or suspected of being pregnant
• Knee valgus diagnosis
• Pes planus or pes cavus diagnosis in the foot
• Hip rotation diagnosis
• Strength deficit between two extremities
• A physician-diagnosed painful knee condition of recent onset
• Regular medication use or use of NSAIDs and similar disease-modifying drugs in the last month
• Intra-articular injection (hyaluronic acid/steroid) application in the last 6 months
• Having a comorbid disease that contraindicates exercise (advanced osteoporosis, vertigo, neurological diseases, etc.)