Charles W C Simpson, Katelyn S Moore, Hoani K Smith, Betul Coskun, Michael J Hamlin
{"title":"Tissue oxygenation in response to low-load and high-load back squats with continuous blood flow restriction in athletes.","authors":"Charles W C Simpson, Katelyn S Moore, Hoani K Smith, Betul Coskun, Michael J Hamlin","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2025.2457859","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2025.2457859","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To determine muscle oxygenation with continuous blood flow restriction (BFR) training in high load (HL), 80% one-repetition maximum (1RM) and low load (LL), 30% 1RM squat exercises. In week-2 of a 4-week resistance training programme as part of their 3-set training routine, two groups of athletes (<i>n</i> = 4 each), one performing HL training with low cuff pressure (20% arterial occlusion pressure (AOP)), the other LL training with high cuff pressure (60% AOP) had muscle oxygenation assessed with near-infrared spectrophotometry (NIRS), arterial oxygen saturation (SPO<sub>2</sub>), heart rate (HR), barbell velocity and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) during barbell back squats (BBS). Changes in the vastus lateralis oximetry were compared to pre- and post-training squat (1RM). Across athletes, there were significant associations between two pre-set-3 exercise variables and post-training 1RM, Tissue Saturation Index (TSI) (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.92, <i>p</i> < 0.0002) and HHb concentration (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.79, <i>p</i> < 0.003). Generalised regression models indicated that TSI % and HHb concentrations before and after set 3 timepoints were significant predictors of post-training 1RM in the LL group (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.99, BIC = -24.9). Well-tolerated continuous LL-BFR training provided greater increases in strength than HL-BFR in athletes.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"2194-2203"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143066260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hoani K Smith, Stephen P Bird, Betul Coskun, Peter D Olsen, Thomas Kavanagh, Michael J Hamlin
{"title":"Effectiveness of blood flow restriction training during a taper phase in basketball players.","authors":"Hoani K Smith, Stephen P Bird, Betul Coskun, Peter D Olsen, Thomas Kavanagh, Michael J Hamlin","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2025.2454712","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2025.2454712","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigates the effectiveness of blood flow restriction (BFR) training in maintaining athletic performance during a taper phase in basketball players. The taper phase aims to reduce external load while maintaining training intensity. Seventeen experienced basketball players were randomised into two groups: a placebo group (<i>n</i> = 8, 22.0 ± 2.1 years, mean ± SD) and BFR group (<i>n</i> = 9, 21.1 ± 1.5 years). The training schedule included strength trainings, team trainings, individual skill sessions and competitive games. During the 4-week taper period, lifting volume was reduced while either maintaining (placebo) or reducing (BFR) lifting load. The BFR group lifted with 60% arterial occlusion pressure at 25-30% of their 1RM, whereas the placebo group trained at 80% of their 1RM with BFR cuffs inflated to only 20%. Compared to the placebo group, BFR participants improved 5 m (-1.4 ± 1.5% mean ± 95% CI <i>p</i> = 0.03) and 10 m (-1.1 ± 0.5%, <i>p</i> = <0.01) sprint performance along with barbell back squat (9.6 ± 8.0%, <i>p</i> = 0.013) and countermovement jump (1.1 ± 0.8%, <i>p</i> = 0.0035). BFR during the taper phase enabled a reduction in lifting load with no reduction in subsequent performance measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"2145-2156"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143039453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nicholas Rolnick, Victor S De Queiros, Masoud Moghaddam, Lisa Marquette, Susannah Taylor, Jessica Walters, Brent Fedorko, Timothy Werner
{"title":"Acute impact of autoregulation of applied blood flow restriction pressures on bilateral single-joint upper limb resistance exercise.","authors":"Nicholas Rolnick, Victor S De Queiros, Masoud Moghaddam, Lisa Marquette, Susannah Taylor, Jessica Walters, Brent Fedorko, Timothy Werner","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2024.2416793","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2024.2416793","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To investigate the acute effects of 4 sets of autoregulated (AR-BFR) versus non-autoregulated (NAR-BFR) applied pressures during blood flow restriction (BFR) resistance exercise to volitional failure compared with low-load exercise without BFR. A randomized crossover design study was conducted on 32 healthy adults (20.8 ± 2.3 years; 11 females). Outcome measures were as follows: (1) arterial stiffness, (2) peak perceptual responses and likelihood to perform again, and (3) performance. Results: Post-exercise changes in central and brachial diastolic blood pressure were decreased in all groups. Post-exercise supine systolic blood pressure in no-BFR increased (mean difference (MD) = 4 ± 1 mmHg, 95% CI (1-7), <i>p</i> = 0.003, η<sup>2</sup> = 0.13). Total repetitions performed and volume workload were similar between BFR conditions but less than no-BFR. AR-BFR reported significantly higher exertion (MD = 0.53 ± 0.2, 95% CI (0.04-1.0), <i>p</i> = 0.03, η<sup>2</sup> = 0.19) than other conditions, and induced greater discomfort (MD = 2.50 ± 0.36, 95% CI (1.63-3.37), <i>p</i> < 0.001, η<sup>2</sup> = 0.28) than no-BFR. Conclusion: Biceps curl exercise to volitional failure appears to induce negligible arterial stiffness or blood pressure changes regardless of the application of autoregulation, yet autoregulation appears to enhance the perceptual response to BFR exercise compared to NAR-BFR without impacting exercise performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"2265-2274"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142502735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Living low-training high: Innovative applications and new perspectives on hypoxic interventions for athletes.","authors":"Paul S R Goods, Louise Deldicque, Brendan R Scott","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2025.2541434","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2025.2541434","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"2101-2104"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144789429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tulasiram Bommasamudram, Zoe G Morrell, Matthew J Clarkson, Kirtana Raghurama Nayak, Rajagopal Kadavigere, Aaron P Russell, Stuart A Warmington
{"title":"Chronic adaptations to blood flow restriction aerobic or bodyweight resistance training: A systematic review.","authors":"Tulasiram Bommasamudram, Zoe G Morrell, Matthew J Clarkson, Kirtana Raghurama Nayak, Rajagopal Kadavigere, Aaron P Russell, Stuart A Warmington","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2025.2474346","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2025.2474346","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This systematic review aimed to examine the chronic adaptations of blood flow restriction (BFR) in conjunction with aerobic and bodyweight resistance training. A search of the electronic databases PubMed (MEDLINE), CINAHL, SPORTDiscus® (via EBSCOhost), Embase, and Cochrane (Central) was conducted to identify relevant published studies. The inclusion criteria encompassed a healthy adult sample population (>18 years), original studies, chronic exercise training interventions (minimum 2 weeks duration) employing aerobic BFR exercise or bodyweight resistance BFR exercise, and comparisons with equivalent intensity non-BFR aerobic or bodyweight resistance training. Thirty-three (<i>n</i> = 33) studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Among the included studies, chronic adaptations to BFR aerobic training were characterized by significant improvements in aerobic capacity (4-9%), muscle strength (6-31%), and muscle hypertrophy (2-11%) compared to non-BFR aerobic training. Furthermore, bodyweight resistance BFR training increased muscle hypertrophy (3-5%) and strength (4-11%). The findings suggest that both aerobic and bodyweight BFR training provide interchangeable options for practitioners prescribing BFR without access to a traditional equipment filled training environment, supporting flexibility in exercise programme design tailored to individual preferences, facility constraints, and specific fitness goals.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"2241-2255"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143567472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Benjamin Jonathan Narang, Kristina Drole, James F P Barber, Paul S R Goods, Tadej Debevec
{"title":"Utility of hypoxic modalities for musculoskeletal injury rehabilitation in athletes: A narrative review of mechanisms and contemporary perspectives.","authors":"Benjamin Jonathan Narang, Kristina Drole, James F P Barber, Paul S R Goods, Tadej Debevec","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2024.2416779","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2024.2416779","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recent evidence suggests that different hypoxic modalities might accelerate the rehabilitation process in injured athletes. In this review, the application of hypoxia during rehabilitation from musculoskeletal injury is explored in relation to two principles: (1) facilitating the healing of damaged tissue, and (2) mitigating detraining and inducing training adaptations with a reduced training load. Key literature that explores the underlying mechanisms for these themes is presented, and considerations for practice and future research directions are outlined. For principle (1), passive intermittent hypoxic exposures might accelerate tissue healing through angiogenic and osteogenic mechanisms. Experimental evidence is largely derived from rodent research, so further work is warranted to establish whether clinically meaningful effects can be observed in humans, before optimal protocols are determined (duration, frequency, and hypoxic severity). Regarding principle (2), a hypoxia-related increase in the cardiometabolic stimulus imposed by low-load exercise is appealing for load-compromised athletes. As rehabilitation progresses, a variety of hypoxic modalities can be implemented to enhance adaptation to energy-systems and resistance-based training, and more efficiently return the athlete to competition readiness. While hypoxic modalities seem promising for accelerating musculoskeletal injury rehabilitation in humans, and are already being widely used in practice, a significant gap remains regarding their evidence-based application.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"2227-2240"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142502742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The influence of specific resistance training methodological prescription variables on strength development under hypoxic conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Cristina Benavente, Belén Feriche","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2024.2425536","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2024.2425536","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted focused on the impact of specific methodological prescription variables in resistance training (R<sub>T</sub>) programming on muscle strength under hypoxic conditions. Searches of Pubmed-Medline, Web of Science, Sport Discuss and the Cochrane Library compared the effect of R<sub>T</sub> on strength development under hypoxic (RTH) vs. normoxic (RTN) conditions through the 1-repetition maximum (1RM) test. Apart from the overall meta-analysis, several R<sub>T</sub> methodological prescription variables available in the included studies (set end point, total weekly training volume, type of exercise, region of the body measured or type of routine) were analysed. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The overall analyses showed trivial differences in 1RM favouring RTH over RTN (SMD = 0.18 [CI: 0.04; 0.31]; <i>p</i> = 0.030). Sub-analyses revealed that a R<sub>T</sub> programme of a non-full-body routine, including 9 or more sets per exercise/week of multi-joint exercises performed to non-failure, favoured RTH for enhancing 1RM (<i>p</i> < 0.10). In conclusion, the evidence ratified a trivial benefit of RTH over RTN for muscle strength gains after a R<sub>T</sub> period. However, the handling of specific R<sub>T</sub> methodological prescription variables can slightly improve strength development outcomes in hypoxia.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"2105-2114"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142648165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jeremy P Loenneke, William B Hammert, Ryo Kataoka, Yujiro Yamada, Takashi Abe
{"title":"Twenty-five years of blood flow restriction training: What we know, what we don't, and where to next?","authors":"Jeremy P Loenneke, William B Hammert, Ryo Kataoka, Yujiro Yamada, Takashi Abe","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2025.2474329","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2025.2474329","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Blood flow restriction is a technique that involves inflating a cuff at the proximal portion of the limb with the goal of reducing arterial inflow into the muscle and venous outflow from the muscle. Low-load or low-intensity exercise in combination with blood flow restriction has been consistently shown to augment adaptations over the same/similar exercise without restriction, with changes in muscle size and strength being two of the most commonly measured adaptations. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide an updated narrative review on blood flow restriction. Blood flow restriction's history, methodology, safety, and efficacy are highlighted. We discuss the effects of blood flow restriction on changes in muscle size and strength, and also review work completed on other variables (e.g. bone, resting blood flow, tendon, pain sensitivity, cognition, orthostatic intolerance). We finish by highlighting six possible areas for future research: 1) identifying mechanisms for growth and strength; 2) sex differences in the effects of blood flow restriction; 3) individual responses to blood flow restriction; 4) influence of pressure versus amount of blood flow restricted; 5) application of blood flow restriction with higher-loads; and 6) what considerations should be made to test the effects of blood flow restriction.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"2115-2132"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143625128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Charles W C Simpson, Julia Walter, Steven P Gieseg, Sonja Lackner, Sandra Holasek, Michael J Hamlin
{"title":"Central and peripheral nervous system activity and muscle oxygenation in athletes during repeated-sprint exercise in normoxia and normobaric hypoxia.","authors":"Charles W C Simpson, Julia Walter, Steven P Gieseg, Sonja Lackner, Sandra Holasek, Michael J Hamlin","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2025.2461947","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2025.2461947","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To investigate central and peripheral nervous system activity and muscle oxygenation in athletes during repeated-sprint exercise in normoxia and normobaric hypoxia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The effects on vastus lateralis muscle strength in a cross-over study were examined in 18 athletes (13 males, 5 females) completing 10 × 6-s cycle sprints. Immediately after and again 5 minutes post-exercise, electromyography (EMG), heart rate variability, maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), muscle oxygenation, peak power output, and arterial oxygen saturation were compared to 2 baseline sets named (\"Baseline\" and \"Pre\").</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Post-exercise MVC was significantly lower (6.7 ± 10.0%) than Baseline, but root-mean-square amplitude during hypoxia (all-times) was significantly lower than normoxia (0.38 ± 0.19 vs 0.41 ± 0.17 mV). Comparative frequency analysis of the percentage change in pre- to post-exercise EMG area, at low 1-29 hz (type-1 fibre) and high 75-100 hz (type-2 fibre) areas, revealed a significant reduction in type-1 fibre activity relative to type-2, by 20-30% across time and by 10% in type-1 activity between conditions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Exercise in hypoxia appeared to cause a temporary increase in central sympathetic nervous system activity and greater recruitment of type-2 muscle fibres, with accompanying reduction in type-1. Acute hypoxia may stimulate type-2 fibre conditioning.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"2204-2216"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143256100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Matthew J Clarkson, Brendan R Scott, Stephen D Patterson, Stuart A Warmington
{"title":"Blood flow restriction exercise in high-performance sport settings: A practitioner survey.","authors":"Matthew J Clarkson, Brendan R Scott, Stephen D Patterson, Stuart A Warmington","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2025.2525710","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2025.2525710","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The purpose of this study was to characterise how blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise is utilised by practitioners in high-performance sports settings. Participants (<i>n</i> = 154) engaged with the questionnaire, of which 123 provided data about their use of BFR with athletes in high-performance sports settings. The main findings indicated that BFR was primarily used for injury rehabilitation (81.3% of practitioners) or supplementary to traditional strength and conditioning programs for muscle hypertrophy (80.4%), limiting loss of muscle mass (71.9%), or muscle strengthening (51.6%). Participants used BFR with both team and individual sports, but with only a small subset of the athletes they worked with (65% of practitioners used BFR with less than 25% of their athletes). Cuff pressures were prescribed using both measured individualised occlusion pressures (56.1%) and arbitrary set pressures (52.8%). Despite practitioners' awareness of contraindications and the need for screening, formal screening tools were underutilised (55.7% of practitioners did not use a screening tool for clearance to use BFR). Ultimately, BFR exercise was largely prescribed in line with established guidelines, although the application of individualised cuff pressures and health screening processes may require further attention from practitioners in high-performance sports.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"2133-2144"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144821640","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}