Effect of Blood Flow Restriction on Recovery After Maximal Resistance Exercise

NCT07342634 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 91529125.6.0000.5402
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 80
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Resistance training has been widely performed due to its health benefits. However, performing this training at high intensity causes significant muscle stress, leading to fatigue and compromising performance. It is essential to implement effective recovery strategies to optimize physiological adaptations. Among the accessible techniques, blood flow restriction (BFR) has shown promise for its potential to accelerate muscle recovery.

Conditions

Recovery; Recovery Time

Keywords

Resistance training; physiological stress; post-exercise recovery; blood flow restriction therapy; functional physical performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (7)

• Lower limb muscle power

  Muscle power will be assessed through the Squat Jump test using a contact platform (Multisprint). Participants will begin in a 90° knee flexion position (verified with a goniometer), with hands on hips, and will perform a vertical jump without countermovement. Variables to be analyzed will include jump height, modified reactive strength index, jump power, and take-off moment.

  Change from baseline at 72 hours after exercise

• Lower limb muscle function

  Muscle function will be assessed through the single leg hop functional test sing a measuring tape in centimeters. The participant will be positioned standing on a flat surface, barefoot, and with their hands on their waist. They will be asked to perform a horizontal jump with the greatest possible reach using only one lower limb (test performed unilaterally). The contralateral limb will remain flexed without touching the ground during the execution. After the jump, the participant must maintain balance for at least two seconds without losing stability or moving the landing foot. The jump distance will be measured in centimeters from the toe of the supporting foot (before the jump) to the heel at the moment of landing, using a measuring tape.

  Change from baseline at 72 hours after exercise

• Isometric strenght of quadriceps and hamstring muscle

  The isometric peak torque of the quadriceps and hamstring will be measured using a digital handheld dynamometer (DD-300, Instrutherm). For the quadriceps strength assessment, the participant will be seated in a chair with their knee bent at 90° and instructed to push maximally against the dynamometer. To measure hamstring strength, the participant will be positioned in a prone position with their knee flexed at 90º and will be instructed to push maximally against the dynamometer. Three attempts will be performed with a 1-minute rest interval. The highest value will be used for analysis.

  Change from baseline at 72 hours after exercise

• Muscle soreness and pain threshold

  Muscle soreness will be assessed using a Numeric Pain Rating Scale (0-10). Pain threshold will be measured with a pressure algometer (FPX 50/220; Wagner) at four sites: biceps femoris and rectus femoris. Measurements will be recorded in kgf and will not exceed 2.55 kgf.

  Change from baseline at 72 hours after exercise

• Perceived exertion, recovery, and discomfort

  Perceived exertion, recovery, and discomfort will be measured using the Borg CR-10 scale (0-10). Participants will rate: (1) exertion as whole-body effort, (2) discomfort as muscular sensations in the lower limbs, and (3) recovery as general physical and psychological recovery. Values will be individually recorded at each time point.

  Change from baseline at 72 hours after exercise

• Myotonometry

  Muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity will be measured using the MyotonPRO device. The probe will be positioned perpendicularly over the following sites: biceps femoris and rectus femoris. The device will apply a 0.18 N pre-load and a 0.40 N impulse to induce tissue oscillation for measurement.

  Change from baseline at 72 hours after exercise

• Bioelectrical impedance analysis

  Bioimpedance will be measured using a tetrapolar device (BIA Analyzer, 50 kHz, 800 µA). Electrodes will be positioned on the biceps femoris and rectus femoris. Analyzed variables will include resistance (R), reactance (Xc), phase angle (PhA), and tolerance ellipse, via Bioscan software.

  Change from baseline at 72 hours after exercise

Other Outcomes (1)

• Occlusion pressures (AOP)

  Baseline

Study Arms (4)

Blood flow restriction with 80% occlusion

EXPERIMENTAL

Will perform an BFR intervention using 80% of the total occlusion pressure (TOP) continuously for 20 minutes.

Device: BFR-80%

Blood flow restriction with 60% occlusion

EXPERIMENTAL

Will perform an BFR intervention using 60% of the total occlusion pressure (TOP) continuously for 20 minutes.

Device: BFR-60%

Blood flow restriction with 10 mmHg of occlusion pressure

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

The intervention will be performed with BFR using 10 mmHg of occlusion pressure continuously for 20 minutes.

Other: BFR-10mmHg

Control

NO INTERVENTION

It will remain at rest for 20 minutes without using BFR.

Interventions

BFR-80% DEVICE

Will perform the intervention with BFR using 80% of the total occlusion pressure (TOP) continuously for 20 minutes.

Blood flow restriction with 80% occlusion

BFR-60% DEVICE

Will perform the intervention with BFR using 60% of the total occlusion pressure (TOP) continuously for 20 minutes.

Blood flow restriction with 60% occlusion

BFR-10mmHg OTHER

Will perform the intervention with BFR using 10 mmHg of occlusion pressure continuously for 20 minutes.

Blood flow restriction with 10 mmHg of occlusion pressure

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Individuals exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics will not be included:
• (1) diabetes and hypertension;
• (2) inflammatory rheumatological, psychiatric, cardiovascular and/or respiratory disease;
• (3) pre-existing injury restricting their ability to perform vigorous physical activities;
• (4) having one or more predisposing risk factors for thromboembolism.

You may not qualify if:

• Participants will be excluded from the study if they:
• (1) have a health problem that does not allow them to continue;
• (2) wish to leave the study;
• (3) use medications, electrotherapy, or other therapeutic methods during the study period that could interfere with any results;
• (4) not sign the consent form.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Paulista University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Franciele Marques Vanderlei

Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, 19060-900, Brazil

RECRUITING

Central Study Contacts

Franciele Marques Vanderlei PhD

CONTACT

+55 (18) 3229-5824; franmvanderlei@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 15, 2025
• First Posted: January 15, 2026
• Study Start: February 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Last Updated: January 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

BR (1)