Minimal Equipment Training Approach to Improve Warfighter Performance

NCT05003778 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Pro00103649
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 54
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this project is to compare a minimal equipment training program with and without blood flow restriction (BFR) training to periodized concurrent resistance and endurance training. The outcomes of interest are Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) performance along with laboratory measures of performance, which include body composition, power, strength, and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max). Additionally, based on the role of mechanical tension in connective tissue adaptation and the importance for chronic musculoskeletal health, tendon architecture will be assessed as well. Lastly, specific blood-based biomarkers will be analyzed in conjunction with questionnaires to determine the systemic physiological and psychological responses to training. Participants will be randomized into one of three training groups and will follow their respective program for 6 weeks. The three groups are traditional concurrent resistance and endurance training, minimal equipment training, and minimal equipment training with blood flow restriction (BFR).

Conditions

Healthy; Military Operations

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Army Combat Fitness Test

  6-event task to assess various aspects of human performance (muscular power, muscular strength, muscular endurance, anaerobic capacity, and aerobic capacity). Tests include 3-repetition maximum trap-bar deadlift, standing power throw with 10-lb ball, 2-min hand-release push-ups, sprint-drag-carry, 2-min leg tucks, and 2-mile run.

  Baseline and Week 6

Secondary Outcomes (9)

• Change in muscular power

  Baseline and Week 6

• Change in muscular strength

  Baseline and Week 6

• Change in aerobic capacity

  Baseline and Week 6

• Change in body mass

  Baseline and Week 6

• Change in body composition

  Baseline and Week 6

Study Arms (3)

Traditional equipment resistance and endurance training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group undergo 6 weeks of concurrent resistance and endurance training using traditional equipment (i.e., power racks, barbells, dumbbells, etc.)

Other: Traditional equipment resistance training

Minimal equipment resistance and endurance training

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group undergo 6 weeks of concurrent resistance and endurance training using minimal equipment (i.e., sandbags, resistance bands, suspension trainers, weight vests, etc.)

Other: Minimal equipment resistance training

Minimal equipment resistance and endurance training with blood flow restriction

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group undergo 6 weeks of concurrent resistance and endurance training using minimal equipment (i.e., sandbags, resistance bands, suspension trainers, weight vests, etc.) while wearing upper- and lower-body blood-flow restriction cuffs

Other: Minimal equipment resistance training; Other: Blood flow restriction training

Interventions

Traditional equipment resistance training OTHER

Participants will undergo 6 weeks of traditional equipment resistance training

Traditional equipment resistance and endurance training

Minimal equipment resistance training OTHER

Participants will undergo 6 weeks of minimal equipment resistance training

Minimal equipment resistance and endurance training; Minimal equipment resistance and endurance training with blood flow restriction

Blood flow restriction training OTHER

Participants will undergo 6 weeks of blood flow restriction training

Minimal equipment resistance and endurance training with blood flow restriction

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Males and females between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive) and enrolled in an ROTC program.
• Subject has provided written and dated informed consent to participate in the study.
• Subject is in good health as determined by medical history and is cleared for exercise.
• Subject will be asked about dietary supplementation use within the past 6 months.
• If subject began taking a supplement within the past month, subject will be asked to discontinue supplement use followed by a 2-week washout prior to participation.
• In all other cases, we will request that subjects maintain supplement use.

You may not qualify if:

• Subjects with any musculoskeletal injuries that would prevent exercising.
• Subjects with any metabolic disorder including known electrolyte abnormalities, diabetes, thyroid disease, adrenal disease or hypogonadism.
• Subjects with any inborn error of metabolism.
• Subjects with a history of hepatorenal, musculoskeletal, autoimmune, or neurologic disease.
• Subjects with a personal history of heart disease, high blood pressure (systolic \>140 mm Hg \& diastolic \>90 mm Hg), psychiatric disorders, cancer, benign prostate hypertrophy, gastric ulcer, reflux disease, or any other medical condition deemed ineligible to participate in physical training by the ROTC athletic trainers or ROTC medical staff.
• Subjects currently taking thyroid, hyperlipidemic, hypoglycemic, anti-hypertensive, or anti-coagulant medications.
• Subjects who are pregnant or lactating.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of South Carolina: lead
• United States Department of Defense: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of South Carolina Sport Science Lab

Columbia, South Carolina, 29201, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Cintineo HP, Chandler AJ, Mastrofini GF, Lints BS, McFadden BA, Arent SM. Effects of Minimal-Equipment Resistance Training and Blood Flow Restriction on Military-Relevant Performance Outcomes. J Strength Cond Res. 2024 Jan 1;38(1):55-65. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004596.

  PMID: 38085621 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Blood Flow Restriction Therapy

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor and Chair

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 21, 2021
• First Posted: August 12, 2021
• Study Start: November 20, 2020
• Primary Completion: March 4, 2022
• Study Completion: June 29, 2022
• Last Updated: November 29, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)