The Effects of Restriction Pressure on Muscle Damage Responses to Blood Flow Restriction Exercise (NCT05037942) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
The Effects of Restriction Pressure on Muscle Damage Responses to Blood Flow Restriction Exercise
United Kingdom34 participantsStarted 2021-11-29
Plain-language summary
Blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise involves the application of a constriction device to the limbs to restrict muscle blood flow during exercise. In recent years, BFR has become increasingly popular due to its additive effects on low-load resistance training, often promoting greater increases in muscle strength and size compared to similar resistance training without BFR. However, like other exercise, it is possible that BFR exercise can cause exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) that results in short-term reductions in muscle function and increased muscle soreness and swelling. One major variable that may influence the onset of EIMD is the restriction pressure used to restrict blood flow; however, the influence of restriction pressure on resistance EIMD is unclear.
The purpose of this study is to investigate effects of two different restriction pressures (low and high) on EIMD responses to a bout of low-load BFR resistance exercise in a sample of healthy, active adults. It is hypothesised that a higher restriction pressure will result in increased EIMD compared to a lower restriction pressure. To test this hypothesis, participants will perform a lower-body exercise protocol with and without BFR, and several markers of EIMD will be assessed before and immediately, 24, 48, and 72 hours after the exercise.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 45 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Recreationally active (defined as performing ≥ 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or ≥ 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise per week for the past 6 months)
* Resistance-untrained (defined as performing less than 2 resistance exercise sessions per week for the past 6 months)
Exclusion Criteria:
* Any history of cardiovascular (including hypertension \[diastolic \> 90 and/or systolic blood pressure \> 140 mmHg\] and peripheral arterial vascular disease), metabolic, respiratory (including severe asthma), haematological (including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism), neurological, gastrointestinal, kidney, liver, or musculoskeletal disease
* Current or previous musculoskeletal injury that may be aggravated by exercise
* Current smoker
* Recently used prescribed anti-inflammatory medication within the previous 1 month
* Self-reported or diagnosed menstrual irregularities within ≥ 3 months prior to recruitment
* Currently pregnant
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Mean change in maximal voluntary isometric force of the knee extensors from pre-intervention up to 72 hours post-intervention