Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT07015515

PAPE Effect With Blood Flow Restriction and Push-Up Exercise (Post-Activation Performance Enhancement)

This study aims to compare the acute effects of push-up exercises performed under different blood flow restriction (BFR) conditions on upper extremity explosive strength performance, measured via the seated unilateral medicine ball throw test.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Blood Flow Restriction Exercise

Age range

18 year–25 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Istanbul Faculty of Medicine

Istanbul, 34093, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

The study includes three push-up conditions (BFR, sham BFR, and no BFR). Performance is evaluated via medicine ball throws at the 4th, 8th, and 12th minutes post-exercise. Exercises are applied in a crossover design with 50% limb occlusion pressure (LOP) BFR, sham, and control arms. Throw distance and ball velocity (measured by radar device) are primary outcomes. RPE scale is used to assess perceived exertion.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Being between 18 and 25 years old
  • Being a volleyball player
  • Having trained regularly in the last 6 months
  • Ability to perform at least 5 repetitions of push-up with own body weight
  • Voluntarily agreeing to participate and signing the informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

  • History of shoulder or upper extremity injury requiring physical therapy or surgery
  • History of venous thromboembolism
  • Hematological disorders
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Peripheral arterial disease
  • Hypertension (systolic/diastolic > 140 mmHg/90 mmHg)
  • History or high risk of deep vein thrombosis
  • Blood clotting disorders
  • Poor circulation
  • Inadequate lymphatic system
  • History of endothelial dysfunction
  • Varicose veins
  • Peripheral vascular disease
  • Diabetes
  • Easy bruising
  • Active infection
  • Cancer
  • Renal failure
  • Pregnancy
  • Intolerance to intervention

Treatment and study plan

Sham blood flow restriction exercise

Other

a BFR cuff will be placed on the upper extremity in the same location as in the real BFR group. During the application, the participant will be led to believe that the cuff is being inflated, although no actual pressure will be applied. The participant will see the cuff being wrapped and apparently inflated, but there will be no physical pressure restricting circulation during the exercise. This aims to control the psychological effects (e.g., the belief that "something is being applied") on performance

Control Group

Other

Participants perform push-up exercises without any cuff application. The same repetition and rest protocol is followed

Blood flow restriction exercise group

Other

Participants will perform push-up exercises with 50% arterial occlusion pressure applied to their dominant arm. The cuff is inflated before the exercise and maintained throughout 3 sets of 5 repetitions. There is a 2-minute rest between sets.

Primary outcomes

  1. throw distance

    Time frame: will be measured immediately after the exercise protocol is completed three times at 4th, 8th, and 12th minutes

    Seated unilateral medicine ball throw distance (in cm) -

Secondary outcomes

  1. Ball velocity (km/h)

    Time frame: will be measured by radar device after completion of the exercise three times at 4th, 8th, and 12th minutes

    speed at which a ball travels immediately after being thrown

  2. Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE)

    Time frame: 1 day (will be assessed at the end of the push-up exercise)

    will be assessed via Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale (6-20). Borg scale is used o quantify an individual's subjective perception of exercise intensity. It provides a numerical scale, typically ranging from 6 to 20. Higher scores on the scale indicate a greater subjective sense of difficulty or effort perceived by the individual.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istanbul University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Acute Effects of Push-Up Exercise Performed Under Varying Blood Flow Restriction Conditions on Upper Extremity Explosive Power Performance

Acronym: PAPE

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jun 11, 2025
Registry last updated
Nov 18, 2025

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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.