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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05835544

Acute High Intensity Interval Training and Blood Flow Restriction

The study aims to look at the blood flow restriction (BFR) + high intensity interval training (HIIT) variables to induce an optimal acute training stimulus (i.e., acute responses in main outcome measures of muscular activation, muscular deoxygenation, and secondary outcome measures of heart rate (HR), blood lactate (bLa), subjective ratings of perceived exertion and discomfort)

The hypotheses for this study are: (i) BFR increases muscular deoxygenation, muscular activation when HIIT exercise is of the same intensity, (ii) however, comparing between a lower BFR + HIIT exercise intensity (e.g. 80% V̇O2max) and higher HIIT exercise intensity (e.g. 100% V̇O2max), muscular deoxygenation and activation will be similar but HR will be lower in the BFR + HIIT condition.

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Key information

Conditions

Activity, Motor Behavior Motor Activity

Age range

18 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Human Bioenergetics Laboratory, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University

Singapore, 637616

About this study

This study revolves around the optimisation of blood flow restriction (BFR) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols for the racket sport athlete. The study aims to look at the BFR + HIIT variables to induce an optimal acute training stimulus. This can be achieved with the consideration of two main research questions: (i) What is the ideal combination of BFR cuff pressure and exercise intensity (i.e. cycling) to elicit favourable training stimuli, i.e., acute responses in main outcome measures of muscular activation, muscular deoxygenation, and secondary outcome measures of heart rate (HR), blood lactate (bLa), subjective ratings of perceived exertion and discomfort?; (ii) How does BFR + HIIT compare with traditional HIIT at a similar or higher exercise intensity in terms of these acute responses?

The hypotheses for this study are: (i) BFR increases muscular deoxygenation, muscular activation when HIIT exercise is of the same intensity, (ii) however, comparing between a lower BFR + HIIT exercise intensity (e.g. 80% V̇O2max) and higher HIIT exercise intensity (e.g. 100% V̇O2max), muscular deoxygenation and activation will be similar but HR will be lower in the BFR + HIIT condition.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male
  • Age: 18-40 years
  • Competed in competitive varsity sports (endurance, tennis, badminton, squash, football, basketball, etc.) at the varsity/club level
  • Actively training for at least 2 sessions (1 - 1.5h) per week
  • Healthy (free from illnesses) and no musculoskeletal injuries for the past 6 months
  • No history of cardiometabolic, vascular diseases or similar conditions (high blood pressure, peripheral vascular diseases, heart diseases, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, stroke, etc.).
  • Pass pre-participation health screening tests - Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PAR-Q+) and Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) pre-screening questionnaire (no history of any risk factors).
  • Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) of ≥40mmol/min/kg during a maximal aerobic cycling test.
  • Non-smoker
  • Drink alcohol less than 3 times each week and less than 3 drinks each time

Exclusion criteria

  • Any diagnosed form of cardiometabolic disease (CVD, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension)
  • Any symptoms contraindication of exercise testing (eg chest pains)
  • Any balance or dizziness problems
  • Any chronic medical conditions (whether medicated or not)
  • Any bone joint problems
  • Any Physician diagnosed contraindications to exercise

Treatment and study plan

Active Comparator: HIIT Control

Other

Complete 3 sets of five repetitions of 30 seconds cycling at 100% of maximal aerobic power with 30 seconds of active unloaded recovery between repetitions; 3 minutes of passive rest between sets.

Experimental: HIIT + BFR between cycling sets

Other

Complete 3 sets of five repetitions of 30 seconds cycling at 100% of maximal aerobic power with 30 seconds of active unloaded recovery between repetitions; 3 minutes of passive rest between sets. Blood flow restriction is applied for 2 minutes during the passive rest at 80% of limb occlusion pressure.

Experimental: HIIT + BFR moderate occlusion during cycling

Other

Complete 3 sets of five repetitions of 30 seconds cycling at 70% of maximal aerobic power with 30 seconds of active unloaded recovery between repetitions; 3 minutes of passive rest between sets. Blood flow restriction is applied during and between exercise repetitions at 50% of limb occlusion pressure and deflated during passive rest periods.

Experimental: HIIT + BFR high occlusion during cycling

Other

Complete 3 sets of five repetitions of 30 seconds cycling at 70% of maximal aerobic power with 30 seconds of active unloaded recovery between repetitions; 3 minutes of passive rest between sets. Blood flow restriction is applied during and between exercise repetitions at 80% of limb occlusion pressure and deflated during passive rest periods.

Primary outcomes

  1. Heart rate

    Time frame: Measured and compared between each acute arm (condition)

    Heart rate using short-range telemetry

  2. Blood lactate concentration

    Time frame: Measured and compared between each acute arm (condition)

    Fingertip capillary measure

  3. Muscle activation

    Time frame: Measured and compared between each acute arm (condition)

    Surface electromyography of the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris muscles to determine electrical activity of the motor units (physiological parameter)

  4. Muscle oxygenation

    Time frame: Measured and compared between each acute arm (condition)

    Near infra-red spectroscopy to examine regional tissue (the vastus lateralis muscle) oxygenation i.e, the percentage of haemoglobin and deoxyhaemoglobin (physiological parameter)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Rating of perceived exertion

    Time frame: Measured and compared between each acute arm (condition)

    Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale 6-20 (6 = no exertion at all; 20 = maximal exertion)

  2. Exertion and Pain scale

    Time frame: Measured and compared between each acute arm (condition)

    Borg Category-Ratio (CR) 10 scale (0 = No exertion at all; 10 = Maximal)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Nanyang Technological University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Acute Responses to High-intensity Interval Exercise (HIIE) and Blood Flow Restriction (BFR)

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Apr 28, 2023
Registry last updated
Apr 3, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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