Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Exercises on Lumbar Muscle Endurance and Balance in Healthy Young Adults

Detailed Description:

Low back muscle endurance and postural balance are essential components of physical health, functional capacity, and injury prevention. Weakness or fatigue in lumbar extensor muscles is associated with spinal instability, poor posture, and an increased risk of low back pain. Similarly, reduced balance control may impair daily activities and athletic performance. Sedentary lifestyles and prolonged sitting are known to negatively affect these functions in young adults.

Blood flow restriction (BFR) training is an innovative exercise method in which a cuff is applied to partially restrict blood flow in the exercising limb during low-load resistance or functional exercises. This technique has been shown to enhance muscle strength, hypertrophy, and endurance with relatively low mechanical stress, thereby reducing the potential risks associated with high-intensity training. While BFR has been studied extensively in the context of lower-limb strength training, its effects on spinal musculature and balance performance are not well understood.

The present randomized controlled trial is designed to investigate the effects of BFR applied during sit-to-stand (STS) exercises on lumbar extensor muscle endurance and balance performance in healthy young adults. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:

BFR Exercise Group: STS exercises performed with BFR applied to the thigh.

Control Group: STS exercises performed without BFR.

The intervention will last six weeks, with two supervised exercise sessions per week. The BFR cuff pressure will be set at 60-80% of the individual's systolic blood pressure and monitored to ensure participant safety.

Assessments will be conducted at baseline and after the six-week training program. The primary outcomes are lumbar extensor endurance, measured with the Biering-Sørensen test, and postural balance, assessed using a computerized balance platform. Secondary outcomes include oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure responses before and after exercise sessions.

The study hypothesizes that participants in the BFR exercise group will show greater improvements in lumbar muscle endurance and balance compared to the control group. Findings from this trial will help clarify whether BFR-based functional training can be considered a safe and effective method not only for enhancing muscle performance but also for improving postural stability in healthy individuals. This may have future applications in sports performance, preventive strategies for low back disorders, and rehabilitation programs for populations with musculoskeletal impairments.

Inclusion criteria

• Age between 20 and 25 years
• Healthy, without musculoskeletal disorders
• No chronic neurological or systemic disease
• No regular exercise program in the last 3 months
• Voluntary participation with signed informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• History of musculoskeletal disease, injury, or chronic low back pain
• Neurological conditions or regular use of medications affecting balance or cardiovascular function
• Pregnancy
• Participation in regular lumbar or core exercise programs within the last 3 months
• Any symptoms during exercise (e.g., excessive fatigue, dizziness, abnormal blood pressure changes) that may pose health risks
• Withdrawal of consent or inability to comply with study protocol