Adding blood flow restriction to 8 weeks of functional strength training in male college sprinters significantly improved average power compared to training alone (+92.99 W vs. +34.72 W, p<0.001).
RCT (n=28)
Randomly assigned
Does adding blood flow restriction to functional strength training improve lower limb muscle strength, power, and movement quality in male college sprinters?
Adding blood flow restriction to functional strength training in male college sprinters provides an additional benefit for average power during anaerobic testing, though other performance metrics showed similar improvements with or without blood flow restriction.
Effect estimate: η² p = 0.756
Absolute Event Rate: 92.99% vs 34.72%
p-value: p=<0.001
Objective Functional strength training (FST) combined with blood flow restriction (BFR) offers additional benefits in older adults and injured patients, but evidence in athletes is limited. This study aimed to determine whether adding BFR to FST improves lower limb muscle strength, power, and movement quality in male college sprinters. Methods Twenty−eight male college sprinters were randomly assigned to an FST−BFR group (n = 14, age 20.17 ± 0.65 years) or an FST group (n = 14, age 19.98 ± 0.39 years). Both groups performed the same FST program for 8 weeks (3 sessions/week). The FST−BFR group wore cuffs set at 50% of arterial occlusion pressure. Pre− and post−intervention assessments included isokinetic knee strength at 60°·s - ¹ and 300°·s - ¹, countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), Wingate 30−s anaerobic test average power (AP), peak power (PP), minimum power (MinP), functional movement screen (FMS), and lower quarter Y−balance test (YBT). Data were analysed using two−way repeated−measures ANOVA (parametric) and Wilcoxon/Mann−Whitney tests (non−parametric). Results Both groups improved over time in most measures (p 0.05). A significant group × time interaction was observed for AP (F = 80.51, p 0.001, η² p = 0.756), with the FST−BFR group showing a greater improvement (mean change +92.99 W vs. +34.72 W). For PP, 300°·s - ¹ knee flexor strength, CMJ, and SJ, significant group × time interactions were found (p 0.05), but simple effects analysis did not detect significant between−group differences at post−intervention (p 0.05). No significant interactions were found for YBT, FMS, or other isokinetic variables (all p 0.05). Conclusion Eight weeks of FST, with or without BFR, was associated with significant improvements over time in isokinetic strength, movement quality, and dynamic balance in male college sprinters; however, in the absence of a no-intervention control group, these improvements cannot be directly attributed to the FST programme itself. The addition of BFR provided an additional benefit only for average power during the Wingate test.
Zhu et al. (Tue,) conducted a rct in Male college sprinters (n=28). Functional strength training (FST) combined with blood flow restriction (BFR) vs. Functional strength training (FST) alone was evaluated on Average power (AP) during Wingate 30-s anaerobic test (mean change in Watts) (η² p = 0.756, p=<0.001). Adding blood flow restriction to 8 weeks of functional strength training in male college sprinters significantly improved average power compared to training alone (+92.99 W vs. +34.72 W, p<0.001).