The Claim

A single session of high-volume back squats at 70% one-repetition maximum causes a larger immediate reduction in countermovement jump height (approximately 15-20%) compared to deadlifts in resistance-trained adults, reflecting greater acute neuromuscular fatigue in the quadriceps-dominant movement, which has implications for training recovery scheduling in strength athletes.

Source: Back squat and deadlift fatiguing protocols elicit distinct countermovement jump profiles: phase-specific predictors and soreness responses

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
69score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Cause and effect
1 study reviewed
In plain English

After one session of high-volume back squats at 70% of maximum strength, resistance-trained adults experience a 15-20% greater drop in jump height immediately afterward than after deadlifts, indicating more acute fatigue in the quadriceps muscles.

See the scientific wording

A single session of high-volume back squats at 70% one-repetition maximum causes a larger immediate reduction in countermovement jump height (approximately 15-20%) compared to deadlifts in resistance-trained adults, reflecting greater acute neuromuscular fatigue in the quadriceps-dominant movement, which has implications for training recovery scheduling in strength athletes.

Why this might work

Heavy squats tire out the thigh muscles so much that they can't release calcium properly to make force, and the brain can't signal the muscles to fire quickly enough. This makes the muscles stretch less deeply and rapidly before jumping, so they store less elastic energy. The muscles then push off slower and weaker, causing a big drop in jump height.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study

  1. Study: Back squat and deadlift fatiguing protocols elicit distinct countermovement jump profiles: phase-specific predictors and soreness responses

    After doing 36 heavy squats, athletes jumped lower right away than after doing the same number of heavy deadlifts, because squats work the thigh muscles harder and more directly. This means squats tire out the legs more quickly, affecting explosive movements like jumping.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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