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Effects of Cyclical Blood Flow Restriction Exercise on Muscle Hypertrophy and Capillaries in Older Adults

NCT07689487 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 31

Last updated 2026-07-08

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The purpose of this study was to learn if low-load resistance exercise combined with cyclical blood flow restriction (BFR) could improve small blood vessel structure and muscle size in older adults.

Skeletal muscle thinning and the loss of tiny blood vessels (capillaries) commonly happen as people age. While lifting heavy weights can help stop this, heavy loads are often not suitable for older adults with joint pain or other health conditions. Low-load exercise with BFR involves wearing inflatable cuffs on the upper arms that temporarily slow down blood flow, which can trigger positive changes in muscles and blood vessels without needing heavy weights.

Researchers compared three groups of older adults:

* One group performed low-load upper-body exercises while wearing cyclical BFR cuffs.
* A second group performed the exact same exercises at the same low load but without wearing cuffs.
* A third group maintained their normal daily activities without participating in any structured exercise program.

Participants in the exercise groups trained 3 days a week for 8 weeks. Researchers used video capillaroscopy (a specialized camera at the fingernail base) to examine changes in tiny blood vessels and ultrasound imaging to measure arm muscle thickness before and after the 8-week period.

Conditions

  • Sarcopenia in Elderly
  • Muscle Atrophy
  • Aging

Interventions

DEVICE

Blood Flow Restriction (BFR)

Vascular restriction administered using an automated cyclical pneumatic device (KAATSU Cycle 2.0) with 40 mm cuffs placed proximally on both arms. Protocol consists of 8 cycles of 30 seconds of inflation followed by 5 seconds of deflation per cycle, individually calibrated by capillary refill time and verified by Doppler ultrasound.

BEHAVIORAL

Conventional Low-Load Resistance Exercise

Upper-body resistance exercise training encompassing four movements: biceps curl, triceps pushdown, lat pulldown, and chest press. Executed under a controlled 4x12 repetition scheme at an intensity of 20-40% 1RM, performed 3 days per week for a duration of 8 weeks.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Akdeniz University, Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit

    collaborator UNKNOWN

  • Akdeniz University

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
50 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-02-01
Primary Completion
2026-05-01
Completion
2026-06-01

Countries

  • Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07689487 on ClinicalTrials.gov