What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: RCT. Population: Healthy futsal players (n=12). Intervention: Futsal training with blood flow restriction (BFR) vs. Futsal training without blood flow restriction. Primary outcome: Peak torque of knee extension (Nm) (ES 1.3, p=0.01).

What does this research mean for the field?

Adding blood flow restriction to futsal training significantly increases peak torque of knee extension, muscle activation, and augments hormonal responses compared to training without restriction. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

May 22, 2019Open Access

Blood Flow Restriction During Futsal Training Increases Muscle Activation and Strength

SASadegh Amani-ShalamzariKharazmi University FFFarid FarhaniTarbiat Modares University HRHamid RajabiKharazmi University

Key Result

Adding blood flow restriction to 3 weeks of futsal training significantly increased peak torque of knee extension compared to training without restriction (ES 1.3, p=0.01).

Study Design

Type

RCT (n=12)

Blinding

Open-label

Randomization

Randomly assigned

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Does blood flow restriction during futsal training improve muscle strength, activation, and hormonal responses in male futsal players?

Population

12 healthy male futsal players (played at least 5 years at Iran's National League Second Division), mean age 23, without orthopedic, neuromuscular disorder or cardiovascular diseases.

Intervention

Futsal training with leg blood flow restriction (BFR) using pneumatic cuffs inflated to 110% of leg systolic blood pressure (increasing by 10% every two sessions), during 10 sessions of 3-a-side game training.

Comparator

Futsal training without blood flow restriction (non-BFR) during 10 sessions of 3-a-side game training.

Outcome

Strength-related parameters including peak torque of knee extension and flexion, muscle activation (iEMG), and anabolic hormones (IGF-1 and myostatin) post-training.surrogate

Adding blood flow restriction to small-sided futsal games enhances muscle activation, strength gains, and favorable hormonal responses compared to standard training.

Main Result

Effect estimate: ES 1.3

Absolute Event Rate: 242% vs 218.5%

p-value: p=0.01

Limitations

Small sample size
Individual response to training may affect results

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of leg blood flow restriction (BFR) applied during a 3-a-side futsal game on strength-related parameters. Twelve male futsal players were randomly assigned into two groups (n=6 for each group) during 10 training sessions either with or without leg BFR. Prior to and post training sessions, participants completed a series of tests to assess anabolic hormones and leg strength. Pneumatic cuffs were initially inflated to 110% of systolic blood pressure and further increased by 10% after every two completed sessions. In comparison with baseline, the resting post-training levels of myostatin (p=0.002) and IGF-1/MSTN ratio (p=0.006) in the BFR group changed, whereas no change in the acute level of IGF-1 and myostatin after exercise was observed. Peak torque of knee extension and flexion increased in both groups (p<0.05). A trend of increased neural activation of all heads of the quadriceps was observed in both groups; however, it was statistically significant only for rectus femoris in BFR (p=0.02). These findings indicated that the addition of BFR to normal futsal training might induce greater neuromuscular benefits by increasing muscle activation and augmenting the hormonal response.

Ask AI

Helpful

Bookmark

View Full Paper