Background: The wall squat exercise has been recommended for strengthening of the lower extremity muscles with maintaining lumbar lordosis. Although squat has been studied to be related to lower extremity extensor strength, the relationship between wall squat and lower extremity extensor strength unclear. Because squat and wall squat are biomechanically different, study on the relationship is needed. Objects: The purpose of this study was to determine the lower extremity extensor strength associated with wall squat performance. Methods: 74 healthy volunteers were recruited to participate in this study. The volunteers were measured hip and knee extensors strength and then performed wall squat exercise for maximum count. Results: We found significant relationships between wall squat performance and hip extensor strength normalized by body weight, knee extensor strength normalized by body weight and the composite value. In a regression analysis, hip extensor strength normalized by body weight explained 29% of the variation in wall squat performance in males and 35% in females. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that hip extensor strength normalized by body weight is critical to wall squat performance in both sexes.

Background: The wall squat is considered an effective exercise because it can reduce the knee load and prevent excessive lumbar movement. However, the relationship between wall squat performance and strength of knee extensors and hip extensors remained unclear. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the strengths of the knee extensors and hip extensors between groups with low and high wall squat performance. Method: Nineteen males (low performance group: 9 subjects, high performance group: 10 subjects) participated in this study and performed wall squats. The subjects who were performing less than 30% of the average wall squat count were classified into the low wall squat performance group (less than or equal to 4 times) and the subjects who performed more than 30% of the average wall squat count were classified into the high wall squat performance group (greater than or equal to 8 times). Knee extensor and hip extensor strength were measured with a strength measurement system. An independent t-test was used to compare the strengths of the knee extensors and hip extensors between the groups with low and high wall squat performance. Results: The ratios of knee extensor and hip extensor strength to bodyweight were greater in the high wall squat performance group than in the low wall squat performance group (knee extensors: p<.001; hip extensors: p=.03). In the high- and low-performance groups, the ratios of knee extensor strength to bodyweight were 42.74±5.72 and 30.76±8.54, respectively, and the ratios of hip extensor strength to bodyweight were 31.95±10.61 and 20.66±11.25, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that knee extensor and hip extensor strength are needed for high wall squat performance. Thus, exercise to increase the knee and hip extensors strength can be recommended to improve squat performance.