Effects of Short Duration Blood Flow Restriction Training on Musculoskeletal and Performance Outcomes

NCT06406907 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: REC/PhD/011104 Saad Rauf
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 68
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Effects of short duration blood flow restriction training on musculoskeletal and performance outcomes.

Conditions

Blood Flow Restriction Training

Keywords

Blood flow restriction; Surface EMG; Reactive strength index; Abdominal muscles

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (7)

• Thigh Muscles Ultrasound Assessment

  Subject lying in supine position. 50% of thigh length was measured from ASIS to mid patella. Ultrasound measurements of muscle thickness of bilateral rectus femoris, and vastus intermedius were performed.

  2 weeks

• Abdomen Muscles Ultrasound Assessment

  Subject lying in supine position. The images of bilateral, transverse abdominis, internal oblique and external oblique were taken by placing the probe transversely in the mid-axillary line, between the subcostal line and the iliac crest 15 cm lateral to the umbilicus. For the rectus abdominis examination, the probe was placed transversely 3 cm lateral to the umbilicus.

  2 weeks

• Thigh Muscles Strength Assessment

  Subject sitting on a table unsupported. Knee in 75° flexion. Dynamometer was fixed with the table with the help of a strap the other end of the strap was fixed with subject's leg just above the ankle joint. Patient performed MVC for 5 seconds. First 2 seconds submaximal effort. Last 3 seconds maximum effort. 3 trials. 2 mins break between the trails.

  2 weeks

• Abdominal Muscles Strength Assessment

  Subject stood in a custom made frame. Knee slightly bent. Heels on the mark so it is standardized for all subjects. Knees and thighs secured and tightened with belt. Chest harness placed and connected to the dynamometer belt. Subject was positioned in 17.5° trunk flexion. Trunk angle checked with goniometer. Patient performed MVC for 5 seconds. First 2 seconds submaximal effort. Last 3 seconds maximum effort. 3 trials. 2 mins break between the trails.

  2 weeks

• Thigh Muscles Electromyography Assessment

  Subject sitting on a table unsupported. Knee in 75° flexion. For quadriceps muscles the electrodes were placed approximately half the distance between the knee and the iliac spine.Patient performed MVC for 5 seconds. First 2 seconds submaximal effort. Last 3 seconds maximum effort. 3 trials. 2 mins break between the trails.

  2 weeks

• Abdominal Muscles Electromyography Assessment

  Subject stood in a custom made frame. Knee slightly bent. Heels on the mark so it is standardized for all subjects. Knees and thighs secured and tightened with belt. Chest harness placed and connected to the dynamometer belt. Subject was positioned in 17.5° trunk flexion. For rectus abdominis the electrodes were placed 3 cm lateral to the umbilicus. For external oblique the electrodes were placed 15 cm lateral to the umbilicus. Patient performed MVC for 5 seconds. First 2 seconds submaximal effort. Last 3 seconds maximum effort. 3 trials. 2 mins break between the trails.

  2 weeks

• Jump Assessment

  Subjects were standing 2 meters away from the mobile stand. My jump 3 mobile app was used for assessment. For jump assessment the mobile was fixed on a stand and placed in front of the subject.

  2 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Assessment

  2 weeks

• Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale

  2 weeks

Study Arms (5)

High Frequency Blood Flow Restriction Training Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects allocated to this group performed squat exercise 6 days per week for 2 weeks with B Strong blood flow restriction cuffs, with the pressure set at 300mmHg of mercury for arm and 350mmHg of mercury for thigh and 30% of 1RM.

Other: High Frequency Blood Flow Restriction Training Group

Low Frequency Blood Flow Restriction Training Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects allocated to this group performed squat exercise 3 days per week for 2 weeks with B Strong blood flow restriction cuffs, with the pressure set at 300mmHg of mercury for arm and 350mmHg of mercury for thigh and 30% of 1RM.

Other: Low Frequency Blood Flow Restriction Training Group

High Frequency Blood Flow Restriction Training Instability Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects allocated to this group performed squat exercise 6 days per week for 2 weeks with B Strong blood flow restriction cuffs, with the pressure set at 300mmHg of mercury for arm and 350mmHg of mercury for thigh and 30% of 1RM on instability pneumatic discs.

Other: High Frequency Blood Flow Restriction Training Instability Group

Low Frequency Blood Flow Restriction Training Instability Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects allocated to this group performed squat exercise 3 days per week for 2 weeks with B Strong blood flow restriction cuffs, with the pressure set at 300mmHg of mercury for arm and 350mmHg of mercury for thigh and 30% of 1RM on instability pneumatic discs

Other: Low Frequency Blood Flow Restriction Training Instability Group

Control Group

SHAM COMPARATOR

The subjects of this group performed squat exercise 6 days a week but without BFR. Pneumatic cuff will be wrapped around the thigh of the subjects but it would not be inflated. The subjects of this group performed squat exercise 6 days a week but without BFR. Pneumatic cuff were applied to the most proximal part of the thighs and arms but were not inflated.

Other: Control Group

Interventions

High Frequency Blood Flow Restriction Training Group OTHER

Subjects allocated to this group performed squat exercise 6 days per week for 2 weeks with B Strong blood flow restriction cuffs, with the pressure set at 300mmHg of mercury for arm and 350mmHg of mercury for thigh and 30% of 1RM. Blood flow restriction cuffs were applied to the most proximal part of the thighs and arms. Each subject performed 75 repetitions in total across 4 sets of squats in the order of 30-15-15-15. Rest between sets was 30 sec. Subjects were instructed to tummy tuck while performing the exercise.

High Frequency Blood Flow Restriction Training Group

Low Frequency Blood Flow Restriction Training Group OTHER

Subjects allocated to this group performed squat exercise 3 days per week for 2 weeks with B Strong blood flow restriction cuffs, with the pressure set at 300mmHg of mercury for arm and 350mmHg of mercury for thigh and 30% of 1RM. Blood flow restriction cuffs were applied to the most proximal part of the thighs and arms. Each subject performed 75 repetitions in total across 4 sets of squats in the order of 30-15-15-15. Rest between sets was 30 sec. Subjects were instructed to tummy tuck while performing the exercise.

Low Frequency Blood Flow Restriction Training Group

High Frequency Blood Flow Restriction Training Instability Group OTHER

Subjects allocated to this group performed squat exercise 6 days per week for 2 weeks with B Strong blood flow restriction cuffs, with the pressure set at 300mmHg of mercury for arm and 350mmHg of mercury for thigh and 30% of 1RM on instability pneumatic discs. Blood flow restriction cuffs were applied to the most proximal part of the thighs and arms. Each subject performed 75 repetitions in total across 4 sets of squats in the order of 30-15-15-15. Rest between sets was 30 sec. Subjects were instructed to tummy tuck while performing the exercise.

High Frequency Blood Flow Restriction Training Instability Group

Low Frequency Blood Flow Restriction Training Instability Group OTHER

Subjects allocated to this group performed squat exercise 3 days per week for 2 weeks with B Strong blood flow restriction cuffs, with the pressure set at 300mmHg of mercury for arm and 350mmHg of mercury for thigh and 30% of 1RM on instability pneumatic discs. Blood flow restriction cuffs were applied to the most proximal part of the thighs and arms. Each subject performed 75 repetitions in total across 4 sets of squats in the order of 30-15-15-15. Rest between sets was 30 sec. Subjects were instructed to tummy tuck while performing the exercise.

Low Frequency Blood Flow Restriction Training Instability Group

Control Group OTHER

The subjects of this group performed squat exercise 6 days a week but without BFR. Pneumatic cuff were applied to the most proximal part of the thighs and arms but were not inflated. Each subject performed 75 repetitions in total across 4 sets of squats in the order of 30-15-15-15. Rest between sets was 30 sec. Subjects were instructed to tummy tuck while performing the exercise.

Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Sedentary males (\< 2.5h/week physical activity) or \< 300 METs per week (36)
• Age 18-30 years
• BMI between 18.5-29.9
• Free from any lower-limb pain or injury
• No previous experience with BFRT
• Ankle brachial index values between 0.9-1.4
• Not doing regular strength training of lower limb in the past 6 months
• No strenuous physical activities 72h before and during the study period
• Non-smokers

You may not qualify if:

• Any injuries of the musculoskeletal system that could prevent the participants from training or testing
• Any use of medication and/or supplements (e.g., protein powder, vitamins, creatine, NSAIDs, etc.)
• Peripheral arterial disease
• Diabetes and hypertensive patients

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Riphah International University

Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Control Groups

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Epidemiologic Research Design; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Research Design; Methods

Study Officials

• Asghar Khan

  asghar.khan@riphah.edu.pk

  STUDY CHAIR

• Waqar Ahmed Awan, PhD

  Riphah International University

  STUDY CHAIR

• Saad Rauf, PhD*

  Riphah International University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 6, 2024
• First Posted: May 9, 2024
• Study Start: November 2, 2024
• Primary Completion: July 8, 2025
• Study Completion: July 8, 2025
• Last Updated: November 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)