High-Load, Low-Load, and Passive Blood Flow Restriction in Competitive Sprinters

NCT07438535 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: Mubarak Janjua REC/25/0417
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 18
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized clinical trial will include competitive male and female sprinters aged 16-30 years, recruited through purposive sampling. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (A) HL-BFR (70-85% 1RM with BFR during sets), (B) LL-BFR (20-30% 1RM with BFR), or (C) Passive BFR (BFR applied between sets). The intervention will consist of a 6-week sprint-specific resistance training program performed thrice weekly, incorporating resisted sprints, barbell step-ups, hip thrusts, Nordic curls, and bounding exercises. Strength will be measured using 1RM testing, explosive power through countermovement and standing broad jumps, and sprint performance via 10m, 30m, and 100m timed sprints. Subjective exertion will be tracked using the sRPE scale. The study aims to determine whether HL-BFR, LL-BFR, or passive BFR produces superior improvements in sprint performance and neuromuscular strength. It is hypothesized that HL-BFR may yield greater adaptations due to combined mechanical and metabolic stress, though LL-BFR and passive BFR may offer practical, low-impact alternatives.

Conditions

Blood Flow Restriction

Keywords

Blood Flow Restriction; Competitive Sprinters; High-Load; Low-Load; Passive Blood Flow Restriction

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Lower Limb Muscle Strength (1RM Test)

  Maximum voluntary strength of lower limb muscles will be assessed using one repetition maximum (1RM) testing protocol for resistance training exercises.

  Baseline (Week 0) and Post-Intervention (Week 6)

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Vertical Jump Height

  Baseline (Week 0) and Post-Intervention (Week 6)

• 10-Meter Sprint Time

  Baseline (Week 0) and Post-Intervention (Week 6)

• 30-Meter Sprint Time

  Baseline (Week 0) and Post-Intervention (Week 6)

• 100-Meter Sprint Time

  Baseline (Week 0) and Post-Intervention (Week 6)

• Participant-reported exertion during training sessions using Borg CR-10 Scale.

  Throughout Intervention Period (Week 1-6)

Study Arms (3)

High-Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (HL-BFR)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will perform resistance training at 70-85% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) combined with blood flow restriction applied using pneumatic cuffs during exercise sets for a period of 6 weeks (3 sessions per week).

Other: High-Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (HL-BFR)

Low-Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (LL-BFR)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will perform resistance training at 20-30% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) combined with blood flow restriction applied using pneumatic cuffs during exercise sets for a period of 6 weeks (3 sessions per week).

Other: Low-Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (LL-BFR)

Passive Blood Flow Restriction Training (PBFR)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will perform resistance training at 70-85% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) while blood flow restriction will be applied only during rest intervals between exercise sets for a period of 6 weeks (3 sessions per week).

Other: Passive Blood Flow Restriction Training (PBFR)

Interventions

High-Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (HL-BFR) OTHER

In the High-Load BFR group, participants will perform resistance exercises at 70-85% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) with BFR applied during exercise sets.

High-Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (HL-BFR)

Low-Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (LL-BFR) OTHER

In the Low-Load BFR group, participants will perform resistance exercises at 20-30% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) with BFR applied during exercise sets.

Low-Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (LL-BFR)

Passive Blood Flow Restriction Training (PBFR) OTHER

In the Passive BFR group, participants will perform resistance exercises at 70-85% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) with BFR applied only during rest intervals between sets.

Passive Blood Flow Restriction Training (PBFR)

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Age between 16-30 years
• Competitive sprinters with at least 2 years of sprint-specific training
• Healthy individuals without cardiovascular, metabolic, musculoskeletal, or neurological disorders
• Willingness to participate in a 6-week training program

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnancy or lactation
• Cardiovascular, vascular, pulmonary, renal or metabolic disorders
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• Recent significant weight loss
• Use of performance-enhancing drugs within past 2 months
• Any medical condition preventing safe participation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Punjab Sports Board

Lahore, Punjab Province, 547000, Pakistan

RECRUITING

Related Publications (5)

• Herrera E, Osorio-Fuentealba C. Impact of warm-up methods on strength-speed for sprinters in athletics: a mini review. Front Sports Act Living. 2024 Feb 27;6:1360414. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2024.1360414. eCollection 2024.

  PMID: 38476581 BACKGROUND

• Richard P, Billaut F. Time-Trial Performance in Elite Speed Skaters After Remote Ischemic Preconditioning. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2018 Nov 1;13(10):1308-1316. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2018-0111.

  PMID: 29745735 BACKGROUND

• Chen YT, Hsieh YY, Ho JY, Lin JC. Effects of Running Exercise Combined With Blood Flow Restriction on Strength and Sprint Performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2021 Nov 1;35(11):3090-3096. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003313.

  PMID: 31453935 BACKGROUND

• Salvador AF, Schubert KR, Cruz RS, Corvino RB, Pereira KL, Caputo F, de Oliveira MF. Bilateral muscle strength symmetry and performance are improved following walk training with restricted blood flow in an elite paralympic sprint runner: Case study. Phys Ther Sport. 2016 Jul;20:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2015.10.004. Epub 2015 Oct 21.

  PMID: 27325532 BACKGROUND

• Zhang J, Zhou R, Zhao N, Li Y, Liu H, Zhang W, Guo W. Acute effects of blood flow restriction with whole-body vibration on sprint, muscle activation and metabolic accumulation in male sprinters. Front Physiol. 2023 Mar 16;14:1149400. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1149400. eCollection 2023.

  PMID: 37035675 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Muhammad Mubarak Janjua, MS PT

  Riphah International University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Danish Hassan, PhD

CONTACT

+92 345 7946009; danish.hassan009@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 23, 2026
• First Posted: February 27, 2026
• Study Start: December 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Last Updated: February 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)