Nordic vs Blood Flow Restriction Nordic Exercise in Elite Female Pole Vaulters

NCT07705698 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 25.05.2026-05/82
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the effects of Nordic Hamstring Exercise (NHE) and Blood Flow Restriction-assisted Nordic Hamstring Exercise (BFR-NHE) on hamstring muscle strength, muscle morphology, and functional performance in elite adolescent female pole vaulters. Thirty-six athletes aged 12-18 years will be randomly assigned to a Nordic Hamstring Exercise group, a Blood Flow Restriction-assisted Nordic Hamstring Exercise group, or a control group. Intervention groups will participate in supervised exercise training three times per week for eight weeks, while the control group will continue routine sports training. Outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention period.

Conditions

Muscle Strength; Athletic Performance; Hamstring Adaptation; Sports Injury Prevention

Keywords

Nordic Hamstring Exercise; Blood Flow Restriction Training; Ultrasonography; Functional Performance; Adolescent Athletes

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Hamstring Muscle Strength

  Isometric hamstring muscle strength will be assessed bilaterally using a MicroFET2 handheld dynamometer. Three measurements will be recorded and the average value will be used for analysis.

  Baseline and 8 weeks

• Hamstring Muscle Thickness

  Hamstring muscle thickness will be evaluated bilaterally using ultrasonography. Three measurements will be obtained and averaged.

  Baseline and 8 weeks

• Hamstring Cross-Sectional Area

  Cross-sectional area of the hamstring muscle will be assessed bilaterally using ultrasonography.

  Baseline and 8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• 30-Meter Sprint Performance

  Baseline and 8 weeks

Study Arms (3)

Nordic Hamstring Exercise

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will perform a supervised Nordic Hamstring Exercise program three times per week for 8 weeks in addition to their routine pole vault training.

Behavioral: Nordic Hamstring Exercise

Blood Flow Restriction-Assisted Nordic Hamstring Exercise

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will perform Nordic Hamstring Exercise combined with blood flow restriction training three times per week for 8 weeks in addition to their routine pole vault training.

Behavioral: Blood Flow Restriction-Assisted Nordic Hamstring Exercise

Control

NO INTERVENTION

Participants will continue their routine sports training without additional hamstring-specific exercise intervention.

Interventions

Nordic Hamstring Exercise BEHAVIORAL

Participants will perform a supervised Nordic Hamstring Exercise program three times per week for 8 weeks in addition to their routine pole vault training. The exercise program will be progressively increased according to participant tolerance and training progression.

Nordic Hamstring Exercise

Blood Flow Restriction-Assisted Nordic Hamstring Exercise BEHAVIORAL

articipants will perform a supervised Nordic Hamstring Exercise program combined with individualized blood flow restriction training three times per week for 8 weeks in addition to their routine pole vault training. Blood flow restriction will be applied using pneumatic cuffs at a predetermined percentage of arterial occlusion pressure.

Blood Flow Restriction-Assisted Nordic Hamstring Exercise

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years - 18 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Female athletes aged between 12 and 18 years.
• Elite pole vault athletes actively participating in organized training and competition.
• Minimum of 1 year of regular pole vault training experience.
• Participation in regular training at least 3 times per week.
• Ability to participate in an 8-week exercise program.
• Written informed assent from the athlete and written informed consent from a parent or legal guardian.

You may not qualify if:

• Any lower extremity musculoskeletal injury within the previous 6 months.
• Previous hamstring muscle surgery.
• Current pain or injury limiting sports participation.
• Neurological disorders affecting movement or balance.
• Cardiovascular conditions contraindicating exercise training or blood flow restriction.
• Any contraindication to blood flow restriction training.
• Participation in another structured hamstring strengthening program during the study period.
• Inability or unwillingness to comply with study procedures.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Toros University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Adana Olympic Preparation Center

Adana, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

Related Publications (2)

• Ripley NJ, Cuthbert M, Comfort P, McMahon JJ. Effect of additional Nordic hamstring exercise or sprint training on the modifiable risk factors of hamstring strain injuries and performance. PLoS One. 2023 Mar 2;18(3):e0281966. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281966. eCollection 2023.

  PMID: 36862645 RESULT

• Vianna KB, Rodrigues LG, Oliveira NT, Ribeiro-Alvares JB, Baroni BM. A Preseason Training Program With the Nordic Hamstring Exercise Increases Eccentric Knee Flexor Strength and Fascicle Length in Professional Female Soccer Players. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2021 Apr 1;16(2):459-467. doi: 10.26603/001c.19452.

  PMID: 33842041 RESULT

Central Study Contacts

İdil Esin Ünlü, Assist. Prof. Dr.

CONTACT

+90 506 515 66 22; idil.unlu@toros.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Asist. Prof. Dr.

Model Details: Participants will be allocated to one of three parallel groups: Nordic Hamstring Exercise, Blood Flow Restriction-assisted Nordic Hamstring Exercise, or control. Intervention groups will complete supervised training three times weekly for eight weeks, while the control group will continue routine training. Outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention period.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 6, 2026
• First Posted: July 15, 2026
• Study Start: May 27, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2027
• Last Updated: July 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)