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

Istanbul University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Blood Flow Restriction Exercise

Treatments: Other: Sham blood flow restriction exercise; Other: Control group; Other: Blood flow restriction exercise group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07015515

PAPE-BFR-2025

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full description

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.

Enrollment: 30 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 25 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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30 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

Blood flow restriction exercise group

Experimental group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Other: Blood flow restriction exercise group

Sham Blood flow restriction exercise group

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

In this group, 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.

Treatment:

Other: Sham blood flow restriction exercise

Control group

Active Comparator group

Description:

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

Treatment:

Other: Control group