Flexi-Bar Training in Sitting vs Standing: Effects on Core and Balance in Sedentary Young Adults
Official title: Effects of Flexi-Bar Training in Different Postures on Core Muscle Activation, Trunk Muscle Strength, and Balance in Sedentary Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Run by Fooyin University · NCT07872566 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether Flexi-Bar training done while sitting or standing improves core muscle activation, trunk strength, and balance in sedentary university students.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 25 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Fooyin University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Kaohsiung City, Daliao Dist.) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 21, 2026 |
| Main results expected | September 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | September 30, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | October 13, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07872566 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are 18–25 years old, university students with low physical activity and high daily sitting time, and no recent neurological or musculoskeletal injuries.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals with existing neurological conditions, recent injuries, or those who do not participate consistently may not experience benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional study recruits 60 sedentary university students and randomly assigns them to either a sitting- or standing-posture Flexi-Bar training group. Participants train twice weekly for four weeks, with each session lasting 35 minutes, and outcomes include trunk muscle strength measured by a handheld dynamometer and core activation measured by surface EMG. The goal is to see how posture during Flexi-Bar use affects trunk control and balance, providing foundational data for potential use in populations with impaired trunk stability. The study is conducted at Fooyin University in Kaohsiung, with Fooyin University as the lead sponsor.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could offer a simple, posture-specific method to improve trunk stability and balance in sedentary individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Evidence from similar core stability and balance training approaches suggests potential benefits, though this specific posture comparison is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Aged 18-25 years and currently enrolled as university students. 2. Classified as having a low level of physical activity based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), with a total physical activity level of \<600 MET-min/week. 3. Reported a daily sitting time of ≥6 hours. 4. Did not participate in any other core stability or balance training during the study period. 5. Had no known neurological disorders, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, or Parkinson's disease. 6. Had no musculoskeletal injuries involving the lower extremities or spine within the previous 6 months. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Develop discomfort, pain, or other safety concerns during the study period and are assessed by the research team as being unsuitable for continued participation. 2. Are unable to fully comply with or complete the study intervention or assessment procedures.
Where it's running
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Fooyin University
Kaohsiung City, Daliao Dist., Taiwan Recruiting
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.