Overview
Resistance training has been widely performed due to its health benefits. However, performing this training at high intensity causes significant muscle stress, leading to fatigue and compromising performance. It is essential to implement effective recovery strategies to optimize physiological adaptations. Among the accessible techniques, blood flow restriction (BFR) has shown promise for its potential to accelerate muscle recovery.
Description
A randomized clinical trial will be conducted with 40 men and 40 women allocated to one of four groups: i) BFR using 80% of total occlusion pressure (TOP) \[BFR-80%\]; ii) BFR using 60% of total occlusion pressure (TOP) \[BFR-60%\]; iii) BFR using 10 mmHg (BFR-10 mmHg); and iv) control (CON). All groups will undergo initial assessments, followed by the muscle stress protocol, and all outcomes will be collected again. Subsequently, the intervention to which they were previously randomized will be performed, and finally, subsequent assessments will be conducted immediately, 24, 48, and 72 hours after exercise. The outcomes assessed will be, in order: pain using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), perception of recovery and discomfort using the Likert scale, and perception of effort using the Borg scale (CR-10), cellular integrity vectors using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), pain threshold using a pressure algometer, muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity using myotonometry, quadriceps muscle strength test using a digital dynamometer, muscle power test using the Squat Jump test, and a single-leg jump functional test.
Participants will be duly informed about the procedures and objectives of this study, and after agreeing, will sign a free and informed consent form, thus becoming effectively part of it. In the consent form, participants will be asked if they agree to the use of their data should they choose to withdraw from the study. Participants will also be asked for permission for the research team to share relevant data with people from the universities participating in the research or regulatory authorities, when relevant, while preserving the participant's identity. The study will be submitted for review and approval to the Research Ethics Committee of FCT/UNESP, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil and will be registered on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Individuals exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics will not be included:
- (1) diabetes and hypertension;
- (2) inflammatory rheumatological, psychiatric, cardiovascular and/or respiratory disease;
- (3) pre-existing injury restricting their ability to perform vigorous physical activities;
- (4) having one or more predisposing risk factors for thromboembolism.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Participants will be excluded from the study if they:
- (1) have a health problem that does not allow them to continue;
- (2) wish to leave the study;
- (3) use medications, electrotherapy, or other therapeutic methods during the study period that could interfere with any results;
- (4) not sign the consent form.