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Document Type

Abstract

Publication Date

1-14-2026

Abstract

Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) has been increasingly utilized in athletic training. Recent studies have demonstrated that blood flow restriction training (BFRT) combined with lower-limb exercises and knee-specific exercises can improve muscle strength, muscle endurance, and lower-limb jump performance. However, no research has explored the effects of BFR combined with ankle-specific exercises on improving these functional outcomes. Therefore, we conducted a randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of BFRT and heavy-slow resistance training (HSRT) on muscle strength, endurance, and jump performance. Method: A total of 24 participants were recruited and randomized to receive either BFRT or HSRT for eight weeks, with three sessions per week. Outcomes were assessed by measuring single-leg countermovement jump (SL-CMJ) height, single-leg drop jump (SL-DJ) height, maximal isometric muscle strength (maximal voluntary isometric contraction test), and muscle endurance (heel raise test) before and after the intervention. Independent samples t-tests were used to examine differences between the two interventions, while paired samples t-tests were used to evaluate within-group differences before and after the intervention. The significance level was set at p<0.05. Compared to baseline, HSRT resulted in a 49% increase in muscle strength (Pre: 136.38N-m, Post: 203.15N-m) and a 22.5% increase in muscle endurance (Pre: 33.09, Post: 40.55), while BFRT resulted in a 45.9% increase in muscle strength (Pre: 135.65N-m, Post: 197.87N-m) and a 53.8% increase in muscle endurance (Pre: 33.15, Post: 51.00). Both groups showed significant changes in SL-CMJ height (HSRT: +12.1% [Pre: 0.162m, Post: 0.182m], BFRT: +15.0% [Pre: 0.160m, Post: 0.184m]) and SL-DJ height (HSRT: +12.7% [Pre: 0.169m, Post: 0.191m], BFRT: +19.1% [Pre: 0.175m, Post: 0.208m]). No statistically significant between-group differences were found for muscle strength (P=0.825) and jump performance (SL-CMJ: P=0.922, SL-DJ: P=0.478). However, the BFRT group showed a significant difference in muscle endurance compared to the HSRT group (P=0.03). This study reveals that both BFRT and HSRT can improve muscle strength, muscle endurance, and jump performance. BFRT shows even greater potential than HSRT to improve muscle endurance. Previous research utilizing BFRT and HSRT for Achilles tendon training shows that BFRT can induce comparable changes in cross-sectional area and tendon stiffness to HSRT. Based on these findings, we suggest that future research focus on the mechanisms by which BFRT combined with calf-rise training improves muscle strength, muscle endurance, and jumping performance.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18122/ijpah.5.1.93.boisestate

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