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NCT Number: NCT07342634

Effect of Blood Flow Restriction on Recovery After Maximal Resistance Exercise

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Age range

18 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Franciele Marques Vanderlei

Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, 19060-900, Brazil

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Franciele M Vanderlei

CONTACT

[email protected]

+55 (18) 3229-5824

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

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.

Treatment and study plan

BFR-80%

Device

Will perform the intervention with BFR using 80% of the total occlusion pressure (TOP) continuously for 20 minutes.

BFR-60%

Device

Will perform the intervention with BFR using 60% of the total occlusion pressure (TOP) continuously for 20 minutes.

BFR-10mmHg

Other

Will perform the intervention with BFR using 10 mmHg of occlusion pressure continuously for 20 minutes.

Primary outcomes

  1. Lower limb muscle power

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 72 hours after exercise

    Muscle power will be assessed through the Squat Jump test using a contact platform (Multisprint). Participants will begin in a 90° knee flexion position (verified with a goniometer), with hands on hips, and will perform a vertical jump without countermovement. Variables to be analyzed will include jump height, modified reactive strength index, jump power, and take-off moment.

  2. Lower limb muscle function

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 72 hours after exercise

    Muscle function will be assessed through the single leg hop functional test sing a measuring tape in centimeters. The participant will be positioned standing on a flat surface, barefoot, and with their hands on their waist. They will be asked to perform a horizontal jump with the greatest possible reach using only one lower limb (test performed unilaterally). The contralateral limb will remain flexed without touching the ground during the execution. After the jump, the participant must maintain balance for at least two seconds without losing stability or moving the landing foot. The jump distance will be measured in centimeters from the toe of the supporting foot (before the jump) to the heel at the moment of landing, using a measuring tape.

  3. Isometric strenght of quadriceps and hamstring muscle

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 72 hours after exercise

    The isometric peak torque of the quadriceps and hamstring will be measured using a digital handheld dynamometer (DD-300, Instrutherm). For the quadriceps strength assessment, the participant will be seated in a chair with their knee bent at 90° and instructed to push maximally against the dynamometer. To measure hamstring strength, the participant will be positioned in a prone position with their knee flexed at 90º and will be instructed to push maximally against the dynamometer. Three attempts will be performed with a 1-minute rest interval. The highest value will be used for analysis.

  4. Muscle soreness and pain threshold

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 72 hours after exercise

    Muscle soreness will be assessed using a Numeric Pain Rating Scale (0-10). Pain threshold will be measured with a pressure algometer (FPX 50/220; Wagner) at four sites: biceps femoris and rectus femoris. Measurements will be recorded in kgf and will not exceed 2.55 kgf.

  5. Perceived exertion, recovery, and discomfort

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 72 hours after exercise

    Perceived exertion, recovery, and discomfort will be measured using the Borg CR-10 scale (0-10). Participants will rate: (1) exertion as whole-body effort, (2) discomfort as muscular sensations in the lower limbs, and (3) recovery as general physical and psychological recovery. Values will be individually recorded at each time point.

  6. Myotonometry

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 72 hours after exercise

    Muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity will be measured using the MyotonPRO device. The probe will be positioned perpendicularly over the following sites: biceps femoris and rectus femoris. The device will apply a 0.18 N pre-load and a 0.40 N impulse to induce tissue oscillation for measurement.

  7. Bioelectrical impedance analysis

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 72 hours after exercise

    Bioimpedance will be measured using a tetrapolar device (BIA Analyzer, 50 kHz, 800 µA). Electrodes will be positioned on the biceps femoris and rectus femoris. Analyzed variables will include resistance (R), reactance (Xc), phase angle (PhA), and tolerance ellipse, via Bioscan software.

Other outcomes

  1. Occlusion pressures (AOP)

    Time frame: Baseline

    To determine the AOP, the Doppler equipment transducer will be used, which will be positioned over the posterior tibial artery to capture the auscultatory pulse. A blood pressure cuff will be fixed to the participant's thigh close to the region of the inguinal fold of the dominant limb, and then with the inflatable region of the cuff on the medial portion of the thigh covering the femoral artery, it will be progressively inflated, waiting 15 seconds every 30 mmHg until the point at which the auscultatory pulse of the tibial artery is interrupted.

Study contacts

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

Franciele Marques Vanderlei PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+55 (18) 3229-5824

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Paulista University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Blood Flow Restriction on Recovery After Maximal Resistance Exercise: a Controlled Clinical Trial

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 15, 2026
Registry last updated
Jan 15, 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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