Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Physical Function, Muscle Adaptations, and Performance in Roller Skaters

Summary

This randomized controlled trial evaluates the effects of adding blood flow restriction training to regular roller skating training on neuromuscular function under non-fatigued and fatigued conditions, muscle morphology, body composition, physiological responses, lower-limb strength, and roller skating performance in competitive roller skaters.

Thirty participants aged 18 to 25 years will be randomly assigned to either a blood flow restriction training group or a regular training control group. Both groups will complete the same standardized 10-week roller skating training program. The blood flow restriction training group will wear pressure cuffs individualized according to each participant's arterial occlusion pressure during selected training sessions three times per week, while the control group will complete the same training without blood flow restriction.

Before and after the intervention, participants will complete standardized assessments of muscle morphology using musculoskeletal ultrasound, body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and lower-limb strength using handheld dynamometry and one-repetition maximum tests. Physiological responses will be evaluated using blood lactate concentration and heart rate variability. Roller skating performance will be assessed using sprint, repeated-sprint, and endurance skating tests.

Neuromuscular function, jump performance, and balance will also be assessed under both non-fatigued and fatigued conditions. Surface electromyography and force-platform data will be collected simultaneously during selected jump and single-leg balance tasks. The Y-Balance Test will be conducted separately without surface electromyography.

The study aims to determine whether blood flow restriction training improves muscle and neuromuscular adaptations, body composition, strength, physiological responses, and roller skating performance, and whether it helps roller skaters maintain neuromuscular function, jump performance, and balance during fatigue.

Conditions

• Athletic Performance Enhancement

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Blood Flow Restriction Roller Skating Training

Participants will complete a 10-week standardized roller skating training program. During regular roller skating training, participants will wear blood flow restriction cuffs three times per week for 20 minutes per session. Cuff pressure will be individualized according to each participant's arterial occlusion pressure and progressively increased according to a prespecified protocol: 40% of arterial occlusion pressure during weeks 1-2, 50% during weeks 3-4, and 60% during weeks 5-10. Progression to the next pressure stage will occur only if the participant tolerates the current pressure without excessive discomfort or abnormal responses. Training attendance, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, pressure-related discomfort, and adverse events will be monitored throughout the intervention.

BEHAVIORAL

Standardized Roller Skating Training

Participants will complete a 10-week standardized roller skating training program with the same training content, frequency, duration, and monitoring procedures as the experimental group, but without blood flow restriction. Training attendance, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, discomfort, and adverse events will be monitored throughout the intervention.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Shanghai University of Sport

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jiwei Chen · Shanghai University of Sport

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

25 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-08-20

Primary Completion

2026-11-30

Completion

2026-11-30