Pneumatic Compression vs Blood Flow Restriction for Muscle Soreness

Overseen By Bailey McLagan, MS

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Southern California

Must be taking: Hormonal contraception

Disqualifiers: Blood clots, Cancer, Fractures, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 1 day

33 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, women must be on a form of hormonal contraception to participate.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Blood Flow Restriction for muscle soreness?

The research suggests that while Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) therapy is generally safe and can increase muscle size and strength when combined with low loads, there is not enough evidence to confirm its effectiveness specifically for reducing muscle soreness. Some studies indicate a potential protective effect on muscle soreness when BFR is used after exercise, but more research is needed to establish clear benefits. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is blood flow restriction safe for humans?

Blood flow restriction (BFR) is generally considered safe when used properly in a clinical setting, with most side effects being mild, such as tingling and muscle soreness. Serious side effects like fainting and subcutaneous hemorrhaging are rare. ^{1 3 4 5 6}

How does the treatment of blood flow restriction differ from other treatments for muscle soreness?

Blood flow restriction (BFR) is unique because it involves applying pressure to restrict blood flow to muscles during exercise, which can enhance muscle growth and recovery even with low-intensity workouts. This method is different from traditional treatments that might focus on rest or medication, as BFR actively engages the muscles while limiting blood flow to potentially reduce soreness and promote recovery. ^{1 2 3 7 8}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Both BFR and intermittent pneumatic compression are purported to decrease symptoms associated with exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD) that cause delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Blood flow restriction relies on applying pressurized cuffs to the most proximal portion of the limb. Another form of recovery often relied upon is pneumatic compression. The mechanism by which pneumatic compression works is similar to that of a massage, whereby the device progressively increases the pressure on a portion of the limb before releasing and moving further up the limb.The purpose of this study is determine whether BFR or pneumatic compression can be used to decreased DOMS which may indicate enhanced recovery.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals experiencing muscle soreness after exercise, specifically delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). The study aims to find out if two different treatments can help with recovery. Details on who can join or reasons for exclusion are not provided.

Inclusion Criteria

Recreationally active population

Women should be on a form of hormonal contraception

Must answer 'yes' to all PAR-Q questions

Exclusion Criteria

Individuals that routinely train trail running

I experience pain when I run.

I have cancerous growths.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo exercise and receive either pneumatic compression or blood flow restriction therapy

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for muscle soreness and function post-treatment

24 hours

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Blood Flow Restriction
• Pneumatic Compression

Trial Overview The trial is testing the effectiveness of Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) and Pneumatic Compression in reducing symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage. BFR involves pressurized cuffs on limbs, while pneumatic compression mimics massage by applying pressure.

Participant Groups

Group I: Pneumatic compression Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The participants will be asked to refrain from exercise 24 hours prior to and following the exercise. Participants will complete all pre-exercise tests (DOMS, CMJ, MVIC). The exercise consists of running on a treadmill situated at a -10% grade at 9 km/hr (5.59 mph) for 20 minutes. This is proceeded and followed by 5 minute warm-up/cool-down periods. Those allocated to the "pneumatic compression" group will receive 20 minutes of pneumatic compression at 100 mmHg.

Group II: Blood flow restriction Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The participants will be asked to refrain from exercise 24 hours prior to and following the exercise. Participants will complete all pre-exercise tests (DOMS, CMJ, MVIC). The exercise consists of running on a treadmill situated at a -10% grade at 9 km/hr (5.59 mph) for 20 minutes. This is proceeded and followed by 5 minute warm-up/cool-down periods. Those allocated to the "BFR" group will receive 4 rounds of treatment: 3 minutes will be spent at 100% of resting limb occlusion pressure, followed by 2 minutes of 0% occlusion.

Group III: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

The participants will be asked to refrain from exercise 24 hours prior to and following the exercise. Participants will complete all pre-exercise tests (DOMS, CMJ, MVIC). The exercise consists of running on a treadmill situated at a -10% grade at 9 km/hr (5.59 mph) for 20 minutes. This is proceeded and followed by 5 minute warm-up/cool-down periods. Those that are allocated to the "control" group, will not receive treatment after the downhill running protocol.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Southern California

Lead Sponsor

Trials

956

Recruited

1,609,000+

Findings from Research

A systematic review of 8 trials involving 118 participants found insufficient evidence to determine the effect of blood flow restriction (BFR) on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), indicating a need for more rigorous studies.

Preliminary data suggest that high restrictive pressures during BFR may increase inflammation with eccentric exercises, while postconditioning BFR might help protect against DOMS.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Blood Flow Restriction Technique on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness: A Systematic Review. Rodrigues, S., Forte, P., Dewaele, E., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 19 participants (12 women and 7 men) aged 18-35, blood flow restriction therapy without external load did not improve muscle recovery after induced fatigue and soreness compared to a sham therapy.

Measurements of muscle strength (torque) and soreness at multiple time points (10 minutes, 24 hours, and 48 hours post-treatment) showed no significant differences between the blood flow restriction and sham conditions, indicating that this method may not be effective for enhancing recovery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effect of Blood Flow Restriction Therapy on Recovery After Experimentally Induced Muscle Weakness and Pain. Wong, V., Dankel, SJ., Spitz, RW., et al.[2022]

A study involving 136 Brazilian professionals in physical rehabilitation found that blood flow restriction (BFR) is primarily used with resistance exercise to promote muscle growth and rehabilitation, especially in young adults aged 20 to 29 years.

While 92% of professionals reported observing at least one side effect from BFR, most were mild, such as tingling and delayed muscle soreness, indicating that serious side effects are rare when BFR is applied correctly in clinical settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Application and side effects of blood flow restriction technique: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey of professionals. de Queiros, VS., Dantas, M., Neto, GR., et al.[2023]

Elastic knee wraps provide a more fatiguing stimulus during low-load resistance exercise compared to high-load and traditional blood flow restriction (BFR) methods, suggesting they can be an effective alternative for muscle training.

Participants completed more repetitions with BFR at lower pressures compared to elastic knee wraps stretched to a high length, indicating that the method of applying pressure can significantly influence exercise performance and muscle activation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acute Muscular Responses to Practical Low-Load Blood Flow Restriction Exercise Versus Traditional Low-Load Blood Flow Restriction and High-/Low-Load Exercise. Thiebaud, RS., Abe, T., Loenneke, JP., et al.[2021]

Blood flow restriction (BFR) training is effective for improving muscle growth and strength even at low exercise intensities, making it beneficial for both healthy individuals and those in clinical settings.

The design of BFR cuffs, including factors like cuff width, material, and pressure settings, can significantly influence the effectiveness and safety of BFR training, highlighting the need for further research on these variables as more BFR devices become available.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Beneath the cuff: Often overlooked and under-reported blood flow restriction device features and their potential impact on practice-A review of the current state of the research. Rolnick, N., Kimbrell, K., de Queiros, V.[2023]

Blood flow restriction (BFR) training, which uses cuffs to partially restrict blood flow during low-load exercise, has been shown to effectively reduce pain and improve functionality and quality of life in patients with neuromusculoskeletal conditions, based on a systematic review of 14 studies.

While BFR training shows promising short-term benefits within the first six weeks, its effectiveness for medium- and long-term outcomes remains unclear, indicating a need for further research.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Blood Flow Restriction on Functionality, Quality of Life and Pain in Patients with Neuromusculoskeletal Pathologies: A Systematic Review. Reina-Ruiz, ÁJ., Martínez-Cal, J., Molina-Torres, G., et al.[2023]

Blood flow restriction (BFR) training with either elastic or nylon cuffs of the same width (5 cm) produces similar effects on muscle fatigue and perceived exertion during low-load resistance exercises, based on a study involving 16 participants.

The study indicates that both types of cuffs can effectively create comparable levels of blood flow restriction, suggesting that the choice of material may not significantly impact the efficacy of BFR training.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Blood flow restriction: effects of cuff type on fatigue and perceptual responses to resistance exercise. Loenneke, JP., Thiebaud, RS., Fahs, CA., et al.[2014]

In a study involving 12 women, blood flow restriction (BFR) during resistance exercise showed similar neuromuscular fatigue responses for both a high-repetition (BFR-75) and a sets-to-failure (BFR-F) approach, indicating that both methods can effectively stimulate muscle adaptation.

The research found that muscle activation, measured by surface electromyography (sEMG), increased significantly during the first three sets of exercise but plateaued afterward, suggesting that optimal muscle engagement occurs early in the workout, regardless of the BFR method used.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Neuromuscular Responses to Failure vs Non-Failure During Blood Flow Restriction Training in Untrained Females. Proppe, CE., Aldeghi, TM., Rivera, PM., et al.[2023]

References

1. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Blood Flow Restriction Technique on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness: A Systematic Review. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effect of Blood Flow Restriction Therapy on Recovery After Experimentally Induced Muscle Weakness and Pain. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Application and side effects of blood flow restriction technique: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey of professionals. [2023]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acute Muscular Responses to Practical Low-Load Blood Flow Restriction Exercise Versus Traditional Low-Load Blood Flow Restriction and High-/Low-Load Exercise. [2021]

5. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Beneath the cuff: Often overlooked and under-reported blood flow restriction device features and their potential impact on practice-A review of the current state of the research. [2023]

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Blood Flow Restriction on Functionality, Quality of Life and Pain in Patients with Neuromusculoskeletal Pathologies: A Systematic Review. [2023]

7. Hungary pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Blood flow restriction: effects of cuff type on fatigue and perceptual responses to resistance exercise. [2014]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Neuromuscular Responses to Failure vs Non-Failure During Blood Flow Restriction Training in Untrained Females. [2023]