N/A N=44 Randomized Triple-blind Basic Science

Mechanistic Drivers of Acute PAPE Responsiveness: Muscle Architecture, Contractile Kinetics, and Excitability in a Randomized Controlled Trial

Neuromuscular Function · Muscle Activation · Postactivation Potentiation · Ultrasonography · Tensiomyography

Bottom Line

View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06982937 ↗

Enrolled (actual)

Serious AEs

0.0%

Results posted

Dec 2025

Primary outcome: Primary: Jump Height 4 Minute — 45.34; 47.41 cm

Study Design & Population

Study type: Interventional
Phase: N/A
Interventions: High-Intensity Half-Squat (Other); Treadmill running (Other)
Age: Adult · 18+ yrs
Sex: Male
Sponsor: The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice
Primary completion: Jun 2025

Outcome Measures

Outcome	Result	p-value
PRIMARY Jump Height 4 Minute	45.34; 47.41	—
PRIMARY Jump Height 6 Minute	48.01; 47.41	—
PRIMARY Jump Height 8 Minute	47.08; 48.10	—
PRIMARY Jump Height 10 Minute	46.17; 47.59	—
PRIMARY Jump Height 12 Minute	45.27; 47.91	—
PRIMARY Muscle Thickness Post	2.95; 2.63	—
PRIMARY Muscle Thickness 4 Minute	2.92; 2.58	—
PRIMARY Muscle Thickness 6 Minute	2.83; 2.58	—
PRIMARY Muscle Thickness 8 Minute	2.70; 2.53	—
PRIMARY Muscle Thickness 10 Minute	2.66; 2.60	—
PRIMARY Muscle Thickness 12 Minute	2.57; 2.55	—
PRIMARY Pennation Angle Post	17.83; 13.84	—
PRIMARY Pennation Angle 4 Minute	16.95; 13.37	—
PRIMARY Pennation Angle 6 Minute	17.09; 14.06	—
PRIMARY Pennation Angle 8 Minute	16.84; 14.09	—
PRIMARY Pennation Angle 10 Minute	16.52; 13.96	—
PRIMARY Pennation Angle 12 Minute	14.61; 13.55	—
PRIMARY Fascicle Length Post	9.82; 11.26	—
PRIMARY Fascicle Length 4 Minute	10.27; 11.54	—
PRIMARY Fascicle Length 6 Minute	9.80; 10.86	—
PRIMARY Fascicle Length 8 Minute	9.59; 10.57	—
PRIMARY Fascicle Length 10 Minute	9.69; 10.97	—
PRIMARY Fascicle Length 12 Minute	10.69; 11.14	—
PRIMARY Muscle Activation During Countermovement Jump in 4 Minute	50.63; 43.96	—
PRIMARY Muscle Activation During Countermovement Jump in 6 Minute	45.29; 43.96	—
PRIMARY Muscle Activation During Countermovement Jump in 8 Minute	46.38; 49.43	—
PRIMARY Muscle Activation During Countermovement Jump in 10 Minute	48.76; 51.71	—
PRIMARY Muscle Activation During Countermovement Jump in 12 Minute	43.19; 34.39	—
PRIMARY Contraction Time Post	31.34; 29.04	—
PRIMARY Contraction Time 4 Minute	29.94; 27.91	—
PRIMARY Contraction Time 6 Minute	26.87; 27.98	—
PRIMARY Contraction Time 8 Minute	26.54; 26.43	—
PRIMARY Contraction Time 10 Minute	26.24; 26.83	—
PRIMARY Contraction Time 12 Minutes	26.01; 26.29	—
PRIMARY Delay Time Post	21.49; 22.54	—
PRIMARY Delay Time 4 Minute	21.06; 22.41	—
PRIMARY Delay Time 6 Minute	21.04; 22.52	—
PRIMARY Delay Time 8 Minute	20.77; 22.07	—
PRIMARY Delay Time 10 Minute	22.05; 22.84	—
PRIMARY Delay Time 12 Minute	21.70; 22.88	—
PRIMARY Relaxation Time Post	20.97; 16.35	—
PRIMARY Relaxation Time 4 Minute	19.08; 16.35	—
PRIMARY Relaxation Time 6 Minute	18.16; 17.57	—
PRIMARY Relaxation Time 8 Minute	19.28; 19.94	—
PRIMARY Relaxation Time 10 Minute	17.71; 16.63	—
PRIMARY Relaxation Time 12 Minute	17.20; 17.30	—
PRIMARY Muscle Displacement Post	5.70; 6.37	—
PRIMARY Muscle Displacement 4 Minute	5.98; 6.36	—
PRIMARY Muscle Displacement 6 Minute	5.80; 6.83	—
PRIMARY Muscle Displacement 8 Minute	5.97; 6.59	—
PRIMARY Muscle Displacement 10 Minute	6.21; 6.22	—
PRIMARY Muscle Displacement 12 Minute	6.50; 6.23	—
PRIMARY Sustain Time Post	48.86; 38.83	—
PRIMARY Sustain Time 4 Minute	46.23; 39.52	—
PRIMARY Sustain Time 6 Minute	43.27; 38.82	—
PRIMARY Sustain Time 8 Minute	42.36; 39.03	—
PRIMARY Sustain Time 10 Minutes	42.91; 39.11	—
PRIMARY Sustain Time 12 Minute	43.47; 40.77	—

Summary

The goal of this study is to find out if one short set of heavy half-squats can help football players jump higher right away-and to understand what happens inside their muscles and nerves to make that boost happen. Key questions * Will performing 2-3 half-squats at 90% of one-rep max give a bigger jump boost than jogging on a treadmill for five minutes? * After each warm-up, how do muscle speed and stiffness, muscle size and fiber angle, and nerve signals change over the next 12 minutes? * Does each player's contribution of fast and slow muscle fibers affect how much and how long their jump improves? Study Plan Researches will invite 44 healthy football players, ages 18-21, who train regularly and meet our health rules. No one will know which warm-up each player does until the end. Participants will: * Get baseline tests of jump height, muscle speed and stiffness (using a harmless electrical sensor), muscle size and fiber angle (using ultrasound), and nerve signals (using sticky pads on the skin). * Be randomly assigned to either: 1. Heavy-squat group: 2-3 half-squats at 90% of their one-rep max 2. Jogging group: easy jog or walk on a treadmill for five minutes * Repeat all tests right after the warm-up and again at 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 minutes to see how jump height and all muscle and nerve measures change over time. * Have their muscle fiber mix estimated from the first muscle-speed test to see if fiber type explains who gets the biggest jump boost. All tests are safe, painless, and approved by an ethics board. Players can stop at any time without giving a reason. This study will help athletes and coaches choose the best warm-up to get stronger, faster jumps right before a game or practice.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Male football players aged 18-23 years
Minimum of 3 structured training sessions per week for the past 6 months
No history of lower-limb musculoskeletal injuries (e.g., ligament sprain, muscle tear) within the past 2 months
No diagnosed dermatological conditions affecting electrode placement (e.g., psoriasis, eczema)
No cardiovascular disease (e.g., hypertension, arrhythmia)
No neuromuscular disorders (e.g., neuropathy, myopathy) on clinical examination
Able to complete a 1RM half-squat protocol and countermovement jump without pain

Exclusion Criteria

Use of performance-enhancing supplements/medications within 2 weeks prior to enrollment
Missed more than 4 scheduled training sessions per month over the past 2 months
Blood pressure >140/90 mmHg at rest or resting heart rate >90 bpm
Any contraindication to electrical stimulation (e.g., pacemaker, implanted metal device)
Failure to provide written informed consent or withdrawal of consent at any time

View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06982937). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.