The Impact of Heel Elevation on Postural Stability During the Barbell Back Squat: An Exploratory Study

Heel elevation is commonly used during the barbell back squat to facilitate ankle dorsiflexion and promote a more upright trunk position. However, its effects on postural stability remain poorly understood, particularly when heel elevation is achieved using wedges rather than specialized footwear. The aim of this exploratory study was to analyze the effects of heel elevation using wedges on postural stability and ground reaction forces during the barbell back squat. Eight healthy young men (22.1 ± 1.7 years; 77.6 ± 7.5 kg; 1.80 ± 0.05 m), all with at least 1 year of resistance training experience, participated in the study. After a familiarization and load-determination session, participants performed 4 sets of 6 repetitions of the barbell back squat at 70% of one-repetition maximum under two conditions: without wedges and with 3 cm heel wedges. Biomechanical data were recorded using a wireless dual force plate system. No significant differences were observed between conditions in mean and peak ground reaction force. In contrast, wedges increased mediolateral center of pressure displacement (+8.8%) and velocity (+7.4%), with the unadjusted analysis showing a significant difference observed for mediolateral displacement. These findings suggest that 3 cm heel wedges do not enhance force output and may be associated with slight impairments in postural stability during squat execution.