The Effects of Repeated Sprint Training with Blood Flow Restriction on Strength, Anaerobic and Aerobic Performance in Basketball

Repeated sprint training is usually performed in team sports, but its combination with blood flow restriction has a lake datum existing on the intense response to this type of training. This study aims to determine the acute effect of repeated sprint training in combination with blood flow restriction on the strength, anaerobic and aerobic performance in basketball. Twenty-four basketball players participated in current study were divided into two groups. They performed twelve on-court sessions; each consists of 3 sets of 8 repetitions of 20-sec and 4-min rests. Strength (1-RM bench press and half-squat), anaerobic, aerobic measurements were tested before the beginning of the study and two days followed by the training intervention period. The results presented a small increase in upper maximum strength (bench press) and anaerobic (Suicide Run) variables (ES 0.2 to 0.5) in (RST-BFR) group. In addition, there is a large increase in lower body maximum strength (half-squat) and aerobic capacity (VO2max) variables. In comparison, the control group reported a small increase only in the aerobic capacity (VO2max) (ES = 0.26), otherwise trivial effect size was observed in other variables. The t-test reported a significant difference between both groups (p < 0.05) after the (RST) with blood flow restriction on the lower body maximum strength (half-squat) and the aerobic capacity (VO2max) measured variables.