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Neuromuscular ControlNCT07061314

Comparison of Lower Limb COP and Muscle Activation During Single-Leg Deadlift Using Elastic and Inelastic Barbells

A study testing Elastic Barbell and Inelastic Barbell in people with Neuromuscular Control and Functional Training, run by Busan University of Foreign Studies at 1 site in South Korea.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study aims to investigate the effects of barbell type (elastic vs. inelastic) and lifting speed on lower limb balance and muscle activation during the Single-Leg Deadlift (SLDL) exercise. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Elastic Barbell and Inelastic Barbell
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
27 participants
Where
1 siteSouth Korea
Study dates
15 Feb 2025to 28 Feb 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • No history of musculoskeletal disorders in the past 6 months
  • At least 1 year of experience in resistance or functional training
  • Able to perform single-leg deadlift exercise safely
  • Provided written informed consent

Who cannot join

  • History of lower extremity surgery or major musculoskeletal injury within the past year
  • Current pain or symptoms in the hip, knee, or ankle joints
  • Neurological, cardiovascular, or balance disorders
  • Participation in other conflicting research studies within the last 3 months
  • Inability to maintain single-leg stance for at least 5 seconds
  • Presence of skin irritation or condition at electrode placement sites

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

South Korea1 site
  • Busan University of Foreign Studies

    Busan, 46234

Other trials in South Korea

About this study

This study aims to investigate the effects of barbell type (elastic vs. inelastic) and lifting speed on lower limb balance and muscle activation during the Single-Leg Deadlift (SLDL) exercise. Using a randomized crossover design, healthy adults performed SLDL at three different movement speeds while center of pressure (COP) and electromyographic (EMG) responses were measured. The study seeks to determine whether elastic barbells, which create top-down perturbations, enhance neuromuscular control and postural stability more effectively than traditional inelastic barbells.

Read the detailed description

This randomized clinical trial examines how barbell type and movement speed affect lower limb stability and muscle activation during Single-Leg Deadlift (SLDL) exercises. The intervention compares elastic barbells-designed to generate upper-limb-initiated dynamic perturbations-to conventional inelastic barbells. Twenty-seven healthy adults with prior resistance training experience participated in the study. All participants performed SLDL using both barbell types across three speeds: normal (2 seconds), fast (1 second), and power (as fast as possible).

Center of Pressure (COP) data were recorded using a force platform to assess anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) sway. Surface electromyography (EMG) was collected from eight lower limb muscles to evaluate neuromuscular responses. Data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA.

The findings revealed that elastic barbells significantly reduced COP displacement and increased activation in the gluteus medius, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and gastrocnemius muscles-particularly at high movement speeds. These results suggest that elastic barbells may improve dynamic stability and neuromuscular coordination, offering potential applications in sports rehabilitation and unilateral training programs.

Being tested
Elastic Barbell, Inelastic Barbell
Keywords
Single-Leg Deadlift, elastic barbell, inelastic barbell, sports rehabilitation, neuromuscular control

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Elastic BarbellDevice

    A flexible plastic barbell that creates top-down perturbations during movement. Participants perform single-leg deadlifts using this elastic bar at three different speeds: normal (2 sec), fast (1 sec), and power (as fast as possible). The bar is loaded to 30% of the participant's estimated 1RM.

  • Inelastic BarbellDevice

    A standard rigid steel barbell with no elasticity. Participants perform single-leg deadlifts using this barbell under the same speed conditions and loading parameters as the elastic barbell.

Study groups in NCT07061314
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Single-Group CrossoverExperimentalParticipants will perform single-leg deadlifts under two loading conditions: an elastic barbell and an inelastic barbell. Each condition will be tested at three different movement speeds (normal, fast, and power) in randomized order. Each participant completes all conditions as part of a within-subject repeated measures design
Receives: Device: Elastic Barbell; Device: Inelastic Barbell

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Center of Pressure Displacement - Anterior-Posterior (AP)

    The range of anterior-posterior (AP) sway displacement (in centimeters) will be measured using a force platform (AMTI OR6). Participants perform SLDL under both barbell conditions at three different movement speeds. Lower values indicate greater postural stability.

    Measured: During single-leg deadlift task (within single session)

  2. Center of Pressure Displacement - Medial-Lateral (ML)

    The range of medial-lateral (ML) sway displacement (in centimeters) will be measured using a force platform (AMTI OR6). The COP variability is analyzed as an indicator of dynamic balance control.

    Measured: During single-leg deadlift task (within single session)

  3. Muscle Activation of Lower Limb Muscles (%MVIC)

    Surface electromyography (EMG) will be used to measure muscle activation in eight lower limb muscles during single-leg deadlifts under elastic and inelastic barbell conditions at three movement speeds (normal, fast, power). The muscles assessed include gluteus medius, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior.

    EMG signals will be processed using RMS and normalized to maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC). Increased %MVIC indicates higher neuromuscular demand under perturbation.

    Measured: During single-leg deadlift task (within single session)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted11 Jul 2025
  2. Study start15 Feb 2025
  3. Primary completion20 Feb 2025
  4. Study completion28 Feb 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
Crossover Assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
27 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07061314
Sponsor's protocol ID
BUFS-SLDL-2025
Status last verified
Jul 2025
First submitted
2 Jul 2025
Last updated
11 Jul 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: De-identified individual participant data (IPD) will be shared via Figshare. The data will include demographic information, raw data from the assessments, and any other relevant data collected during the study.

Publications

  • Ditroilo M, O'Sullivan R, Harnan B, Crossey A, Gillmor B, Dardis W, Grainger A. Water-filled training tubes increase core muscle activation and somatosensory control of balance during squat. J Sports Sci. 2018 Sep;36(17):2002-2008. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2018.1431868. Epub 2018 Jan 24.

    PubMed 29364062
  • Saeterbakken AH, Fimland MS. Muscle force output and electromyographic activity in squats with various unstable surfaces. J Strength Cond Res. 2013 Jan;27(1):130-6. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182541d43.

    PubMed 22450254
  • Badier M, Guillot C, Lagier-Tessonnier F, Burnet H, Jammes Y. EMG power spectrum of respiratory and skeletal muscles during static contraction in healthy man. Muscle Nerve. 1993 Jun;16(6):601-9. doi: 10.1002/mus.880160605.

    PubMed 8502257
  • Rutherford DJ, Hubley-Kozey CL, Stanish WD. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction exercises: a methodological investigation in moderate knee osteoarthritis. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2011 Feb;21(1):154-60. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2010.09.004.

    PubMed 20926310
  • Hermens HJ, Freriks B, Disselhorst-Klug C, Rau G. Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2000 Oct;10(5):361-74. doi: 10.1016/s1050-6411(00)00027-4.

    PubMed 11018445
  • Lafond D, Corriveau H, Hebert R, Prince F. Intrasession reliability of center of pressure measures of postural steadiness in healthy elderly people. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004 Jun;85(6):896-901. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2003.08.089.

    PubMed 15179642
  • Lopez-de-Celis C, Sanchez-Alfonso N, Rodriguez-Sanz J, Romani-Sanchez S, Labata-Lezaun N, Canet-Vintro M, Aiguade R, Perez-Bellmunt A. Quadriceps and gluteus medius activity during stable and unstable loading exercises in athletes. A cross-sectional study. J Orthop Res. 2024 Feb;42(2):317-325. doi: 10.1002/jor.25680. Epub 2023 Aug 27.

    PubMed 37593805
  • Morrissey MC, Harman EA, Johnson MJ. Resistance training modes: specificity and effectiveness. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995 May;27(5):648-60.

    PubMed 7674868
  • Hutchison RE, Caterisano A. Comparison of Peak Ground Reaction Force, Joint Kinetics and Kinematics, and Muscle Activity Between a Flexible and Steel Barbell During the Back Squat Exercise. J Hum Kinet. 2019 Aug 21;68:99-108. doi: 10.2478/hukin-2019-0059. eCollection 2019 Aug.

    PubMed 31531136
  • Glass SC, Wisneski KA. Effect of Instability Training on Compensatory Muscle Activation during Perturbation Challenge in Young Adults. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2023 Sep 15;8(3):136. doi: 10.3390/jfmk8030136.

    PubMed 37754969
  • Mansfield A, Wong JS, Bryce J, Knorr S, Patterson KK. Does perturbation-based balance training prevent falls? Systematic review and meta-analysis of preliminary randomized controlled trials. Phys Ther. 2015 May;95(5):700-9. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20140090. Epub 2014 Dec 18.

    PubMed 25524873
  • Pai YC, Bhatt T, Yang F, Wang E. Perturbation training can reduce community-dwelling older adults' annual fall risk: a randomized controlled trial. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2014 Dec;69(12):1586-94. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glu087. Epub 2014 Jun 24.

    PubMed 24966227
  • Smania N, Corato E, Tinazzi M, Stanzani C, Fiaschi A, Girardi P, Gandolfi M. Effect of balance training on postural instability in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2010 Nov-Dec;24(9):826-34. doi: 10.1177/1545968310376057.

    PubMed 21045119
  • Nairn BC, Sutherland CA, Drake JD. Motion and Muscle Activity Are Affected by Instability Location During a Squat Exercise. J Strength Cond Res. 2017 Mar;31(3):677-685. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001745.

    PubMed 27930445
  • Drinkwater EJ, Pritchett EJ, Behm DG. Effect of instability and resistance on unintentional squat-lifting kinetics. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2007 Dec;2(4):400-13. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2.4.400.

    PubMed 19171958

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Elastic Barbell and Inelastic Barbell in people with Neuromuscular Control and Functional Training, run by Busan University of Foreign Studies at 1 site in South Korea.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in South Korea. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Center of Pressure Displacement - Anterior-Posterior (AP) (time frame: During single-leg deadlift task (within single session)). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07061314, which also lists 32 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Jul 2025.

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