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NCT Number: NCT07701213

Blood Flow Restriction and Aerobic Exercise in Iron Deficiency Anemia

Preventing iron deficiency anemia is essential for strengthening adolescent health and ensuring their full development. Strategies such as improving nutrition, expanding the availability of iron-fortified products, implementing pharmacological prevention, and raising awareness play a crucial role in addressing this issue.

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Key information

Conditions

Iron Deficiency Anaemia Anemia Anemia, Hypochromic Anemia, Iron-Deficiency Hematologic Diseases Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases Iron Deficiencies Iron Metabolism Disorders Metabolic Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Age range

19 year–25 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

Anemia is a global public health problem affecting both developing and developed countries at all ages, with major consequences for human health as well as social and economic burden. Iron deficiency affects more than 2 billion people world wide, and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) remains to be the top cause of anemia.

For decades, blood flow restriction (BFR), originating from Japan, has become one of the most popular techniques in physiotherapy. To perform the BFR technique, a controlled tourniquet is performed, generating a gradual mechanical pressure just below it, affecting blood flow (both arterial and venous) and generating a hypoxia in the restricted area. For the realization of the tourniquet, mechanical cuffs are used, which are inflated and regulate the pressure generated in the compression zone, although nylon or elastic cuffs are also used for the realization of the tourniquet.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Hb more than 8 and less than 12 in females.
  • Age: 19-25 year.
  • BMI ranging from 25 to 29.9 kg/m2.
  • No existing inflammatory conditions including rheumatoid arthritis disorders of the lower extremities.
  • Physical activity level less than 150 min per week

Exclusion criteria

  • unstable hypertension, venous thromboembolism, hypercoagulable states, varicose veins, pregnancy, and hemophilia.
  • inherited or acquired red cell disorders (haemoglobinopathies).
  • acute or chronic infections (malaria, tuberculosis, HIV),.
  • severe anemia (Hb <8 g/dL).
  • History of cardiovascular diseases.
  • Nutritional anemia (B12/folate)
  • Pregnancy.
  • Peripheral arterial disease.
  • Intermittent claudication.
  • Non smokers

Treatment and study plan

aerobic exercise + blood flow restriction

Device

Twenty five females will be subjected to supervised blood flow restriction combined with aerobic exercise program. participated in 3 months exercise training protocol, which included three walking training sessions per week on a treadmill set at a speed 3 km/h. They experienced 3 session/week and each session include 5-10 minutes .A pressure of between 140 and 200 mmHg was applied using a sphygmomanometer cuff placed at the thigh of the BFR group. The pressure of the cuff was increased until the participants adapted to the restriction stimulus during the early phase of training, and this pressure was maintained used during the training protocol. The strap pressure was increased by 10 mmHg per week, such that it reached 200 mmHg by the end of 12th week. The pressure on the thigh strap was abruptly released after five completions of the exercise set.

Aerobic Exercise

Procedure

participated in 3 months exercise training protocol, which included three walking training sessions per week on a treadmill set at a speed 3 km/h. They experienced 3 session/week and each session include 5-10 minutes warming up and five training sets (each lasting 2 min) with a 1 min rest period between each exercise session and ended with 5-10 minutes cooling down.

Primary outcomes

  1. haemoglobin concentration

    Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

  2. Serum ferritin level

    Time frame: Baseline and at 12 weeks

  3. Haematocrit

    Time frame: Baseline and at 12 weeks

  4. Red blood cell (RBC) count

    Time frame: baseline and at 12 week

  5. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)

    Time frame: baseline and at 12 week

  6. Mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH)

    Time frame: baseline and at 12 week

Secondary outcomes

  1. Functional capacity assessed using the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT)

    Time frame: baseline and at 12 week

  2. Quality of life assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire

    Time frame: baseline and at 12 week

  3. Estimated maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max) derived from the ISWT

    Time frame: baseline and at 12 week

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

noha sameh donia, assisstant lecturer

CONTACT

[email protected]

01275600448

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Cairo University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Impact of Blood Flow Restriction on Hematological Factors in Anemic Young Females

Acronym: BFR-IDA

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jul 14, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 14, 2026

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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