Healthy IndividualsNCT07340385
Physiological and Biochemical Responses to Blood Flow Restriction Training
An observational study of Healthy Individuals and Trained Athletes, run by Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study is designed to examine the short-term and long-term effects of blood flow restriction exercise training on physiological and biochemical markers in individuals who are new to strength training and in experienced athletes training at different load levels. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy Individuals, Trained Athletes
- What is being tested?
- Blood Flow Restriction Training
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 20 Jan 2026to 20 Mar 2027
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 40 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Study population: The study population consists of healthy adults aged 18-40 years, including individuals who are new to strength training and experienced athletes from different sports disciplines with varying training load levels.
Who may be able to join
- Voluntary participation of healthy adults
- Age between 18 and 40 years
- No history of orthopedic pathology or current symptoms affecting the lower extremities
- For individuals with prior training experience: engagement in strength training at least two days per week for the past year across different sports disciplines
- For individuals new to strength training: no regular participation in strength training within the past six months
Who cannot join
- History of hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, peripheral vascular diseases, deep vein thrombosis, neurological disorders, obesity, or a diagnosis of diabetes
- Current or previous diagnosis of cancer
- Individuals who do not consent to participate in the study
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University
Afyonkarahisar, Merkez, 03030
Fatma EKEN, 05365241207, fatmaeken08@gmail.com
About this study
Official title: The Effects of Training History on Physiological and Biochemical Responses in Blood Flow Restriction Strength Training
This study is designed to examine the short-term and long-term effects of blood flow restriction exercise training on physiological and biochemical markers in individuals who are new to strength training and in experienced athletes training at different load levels. This exercise method involves placing a special inflatable cuff around the upper part of the thigh. The cuff partially limits blood flow to the area, which helps the muscles work more effectively during exercise. The cuff will be applied only to the individual's dominant leg (the leg you use more often in daily activities), but all exercises will be performed using both legs. The exercise program will last for a total of six weeks and will be carried out twice per week. The pressure applied by the cuff will be individually adjusted based on each participant's physical characteristics to ensure safety and comfort. The study will include a total of 30 healthy participants aged between 18 and 40 years. Participants will be divided into two groups: individuals who have recently started strength training and experienced athletes with different levels of training experience.
- Conditions
- Healthy Individuals, Trained Athletes
- Being tested
- Blood Flow Restriction Training
- Keywords
- Strength Training, Oxidative Stress, Growth Factors, Biochemical Markers, Muscle Thickness
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Blood Flow Restriction TrainingOther
Adaptation to blood flow restriction exercise training and the individually tailored occlusion pressure will be determined during the initial sessions. Occlusion pressure will be assessed while the participant is in a supine position by inflating a pneumatic cuff placed on the thigh until the tibial artery pulse is no longer detectable, which will be confirmed using a handheld Doppler device. To ensure safe adaptation to the training protocol, the pressure applied during the first two training sessions will be set below the individually determined target pressure. The full target occlusion pressure will be implemented starting from the third training session. For example, if the target pressure is determined as 300 mmHg, exercises will be performed at 200 mmHg during the first session and 250 mmHg during the second session. Blood flow restriction training principles will be applied during exercise loading. Four different types of exercises will be set up in four sets.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Novice Training Group | This group consists of healthy individuals who are new to strength training. Participants in this group will perform low-intensity resistance exercises with blood flow restriction applied to the proximal thigh using an inflatable cuff. Receives: Other: Blood Flow Restriction Training | |
| Experienced Athletes Group | This group includes healthy experienced athletes from different sports disciplines and training load levels. Participants will perform the same low-intensity blood flow restriction exercise protocol applied to the proximal thigh using an inflatable cuff. Receives: Other: Blood Flow Restriction Training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Muscle Thickness
Measured: Baseline and after 6 weeks of training
Blood Biomarkers
Oxidative Stress Markers Growth Factor Levels Muscle Damage Markers
Measured: Blood samples will be collected at three time points: before and immediately after the third training session to assess acute responses, and at the end of the 6-week training period to assess long-term effects.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Jan 2026
- Study start20 Jan 2026
- Primary completion20 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion20 Mar 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Healthy IndividualsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Kocatepe University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Fatma Eken, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07340385
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025/9
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 6 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 13 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Nielsen JL, Aagaard P, Prokhorova TA, Nygaard T, Bech RD, Suetta C, Frandsen U. Blood flow restricted training leads to myocellular macrophage infiltration and upregulation of heat shock proteins, but no apparent muscle damage. J Physiol. 2017 Jul 15;595(14):4857-4873. doi: 10.1113/JP273907. Epub 2017 Jun 23.
PubMed 28481416Centner C, Zdzieblik D, Dressler P, Fink B, Gollhofer A, Konig D. Acute effects of blood flow restriction on exercise-induced free radical production in young and healthy subjects. Free Radic Res. 2018 Apr;52(4):446-454. doi: 10.1080/10715762.2018.1440293. Epub 2018 Mar 15.
PubMed 29448855Franchi MV, Longo S, Mallinson J, Quinlan JI, Taylor T, Greenhaff PL, Narici MV. Muscle thickness correlates to muscle cross-sectional area in the assessment of strength training-induced hypertrophy. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2018 Mar;28(3):846-853. doi: 10.1111/sms.12961. Epub 2017 Sep 21.
PubMed 28805932
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effects of Training History on Physiological and Biochemical Responses in Blood Flow Restriction Strength Training
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07340385
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2025/9
- Conditions
- Healthy Individuals, Trained Athletes
- Keywords
- Strength Training, Oxidative Stress, Growth Factors, Biochemical Markers, Muscle Thickness
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Kocatepe University
- Study start
- 20 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 20 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 20 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 14 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study is designed to examine the short-term and long-term effects of blood flow restriction exercise training on physiological and biochemical markers in individuals who are new to strength training and in experienced athletes training at different load levels. This exercise method involves placing a special inflatable cuff around the upper part of the thigh. The cuff partially limits blood flow to the area, which helps the muscles work more effectively during exercise. The cuff will be applied only to the individual's dominant leg (the leg you use more often in daily activities), but all exercises will be performed using both legs. The exercise program will last for a total of six weeks and will be carried out twice per week. The pressure applied by the cuff will be individually adjusted based on each participant's physical characteristics to ensure safety and comfort. The study will include a total of 30 healthy participants aged between 18 and 40 years. Participants will be divided into two groups: individuals who have recently started strength training and experienced athletes with different levels of training experience.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Novice Training Group | – | Other: Blood Flow Restriction TrainingThis group consists of healthy individuals who are new to strength training. Participants in this group will perform low-intensity resistance exercises with blood flow restriction applied to the proximal thigh using an inflatable cuff. |
| Experienced Athletes Group | – | Other: Blood Flow Restriction TrainingThis group includes healthy experienced athletes from different sports disciplines and training load levels. Participants will perform the same low-intensity blood flow restriction exercise protocol applied to the proximal thigh using an inflatable cuff. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
- Study population
- The study population consists of healthy adults aged 18-40 years, including individuals who are new to strength training and experienced athletes from different sports disciplines with varying training load levels.
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Voluntary participation of healthy adults
- Age between 18 and 40 years
- No history of orthopedic pathology or current symptoms affecting the lower extremities
- For individuals with prior training experience: engagement in strength training at least two days per week for the past year across different sports disciplines
- For individuals new to strength training: no regular participation in strength training within the past six months
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- History of hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, peripheral vascular diseases, deep vein thrombosis, neurological disorders, obesity, or a diagnosis of diabetes
- Current or previous diagnosis of cancer
- Individuals who do not consent to participate in the study
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Blood Flow Restriction TrainingAdaptation to blood flow restriction exercise training and the individually tailored occlusion pressure will be determined during the initial sessions. Occlusion pressure will be assessed while the participant is in a supine position by inflating a pneumatic cuff placed on the thigh until the tibial artery pulse is no longer detectable, which will be confirmed using a handheld Doppler device. To ensure safe adaptation to the training protocol, the pressure applied during the first two training sessions will be set below the individually determined target pressure. The full target occlusion pressure will be implemented starting from the third training session. For example, if the target pressure is determined as 300 mmHg, exercises will be performed at 200 mmHg during the first session and 250 mmHg during the second session. Blood flow restriction training principles will be applied during exercise loading. Four different types of exercises will be set up in four sets. | Other | Experienced Athletes Group, Novice Training Group |
Primary outcome
Muscle Thickness
Time frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks of training
Blood Biomarkers
Time frame: Blood samples will be collected at three time points: before and immediately after the third training session to assess acute responses, and at the end of the 6-week training period to assess long-term effects.
Oxidative Stress Markers Growth Factor Levels Muscle Damage Markers
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Feb 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 28481416Nielsen JL, Aagaard P, Prokhorova TA, Nygaard T, Bech RD, Suetta C, Frandsen U. Blood flow restricted training leads to myocellular macrophage infiltration and upregulation of heat shock proteins, but no apparent muscle damage. J Physiol. 2017 Jul 15;595(14):4857-4873. doi: 10.1113/JP273907. Epub 2017 Jun 23.
- Results publication: PubMed 29448855Centner C, Zdzieblik D, Dressler P, Fink B, Gollhofer A, Konig D. Acute effects of blood flow restriction on exercise-induced free radical production in young and healthy subjects. Free Radic Res. 2018 Apr;52(4):446-454. doi: 10.1080/10715762.2018.1440293. Epub 2018 Mar 15.
- Results publication: PubMed 28805932Franchi MV, Longo S, Mallinson J, Quinlan JI, Taylor T, Greenhaff PL, Narici MV. Muscle thickness correlates to muscle cross-sectional area in the assessment of strength training-induced hypertrophy. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2018 Mar;28(3):846-853. doi: 10.1111/sms.12961. Epub 2017 Sep 21.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Healthy Individuals and Trained Athletes, run by Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Dilara KARA (+90 530 237 1991, dilaradonder@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Muscle Thickness (time frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks of training). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07340385, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Feb 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 6 Nov 2026.