The Effects of Increased vs. Traditional Squat Stance Width on Performance Indices in Elite Rugby League Players

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The back squat is a commonly utilized resistance training exercise for the promotion of both performance and musculoskeletal health. There are a range of manipulations that can be made to the setup of this resistance exercise, with once such adaptation being the stance width when performing the exercise. This intervention aims to explore the effects of increasing the stance with on performance indices in elite rugby league players.

Official Title
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The Effects of Increased vs. Traditional Squat Stance Width on Performance Indices in Elite Rugby League Players; an 8-week Pre-season Randomized Control Intervention

Conditions
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Sports Performance

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Normal stance width
* Behavioral: Wide stance width


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Rugby league player contracted to a professional Super League team 5-years minimum of back squat experience Male Injury free for 6-months Exclusion Criteria: Female Any injury at baseline Any international matches played during the between season break

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Stratified to include similar number of forward and backs in each arm.
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Normal stance width<br>Those assigned to this group will complete their pre-season training as normal i.e. when performing their squat exercises they will do so using their habitual (self-selected) stance width. | Behavioral: Normal stance width<br>* Normal self-selected stance width when performing squat exercises.<br>|
| Experimental: Wide stance width<br>Those assigned to this (i.e. experimental) group will also complete their pre-season training as normal, the only exception will be that when performing their squat exercises they will increase their stance width by 20% compared to their self-selected stance width. | Behavioral: Wide stance width<br>* Increased stance with (by 20% over their own self-selected stance width) when performing squat exercises.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 505 agility test | Test of 180 degree turning ability, measured using timing gates. | Baseline | 
| 505 agility test | Test of 180 degree turning ability, measured using timing gates. | 8-weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Body mass | Body mass using a weighing scale. | Baseline | 
| Body mass | Body mass using a weighing scale. | 8-weeks | 
| Sum of skinfold thickness | Skinfold thicknesses measured using callipers at eight sites according to the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) restricted profile (triceps, subscapular, biceps, iliac crest, supraspinal, abdominal, mid-thigh, and medial calf) | Baseline | 
| Sum of skinfold thickness | Skinfold thicknesses measured using callipers at eight sites according to the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) restricted profile (triceps, subscapular, biceps, iliac crest, supraspinal, abdominal, mid-thigh, and medial calf) | 8-weeks | 
| Three repetition maximum squat strength | The maximum squat weight that can be lifted for a total of three repetitions | Baseline | 
| Three repetition maximum squat strength | The maximum squat weight that can be lifted for a total of three repetitions | 8-weeks | 
| Counter movement jump height | The maximum height that can be jumped vertically, measured using a jump mat. | Baseline | 
| Counter movement jump height | The maximum height that can be jumped vertically, measured using a jump mat. | 8-weeks |