Athletic PerformanceBFR-CLUSTER-SWNCT07786129
Cluster Training With Blood Flow Restriction in Competitive 200-m Freestyle Swimmers
A study testing Cluster Training With Blood Flow Restriction and Cluster Training Alone in people with Athletic Performance and Exercise Training, run by Saif Rasheed Ghanim at 1 site in Iraq.
Trial summary
This study evaluated the effects of adding individualized blood flow restriction (BFR) to cluster resistance training on swimming performance, physical fitness, and selected circulating growth factors in competitive swimmers. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 17 to 20 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Athletic Performance, Exercise Training
- What is being tested?
- Cluster Training With Blood Flow Restriction and Cluster Training Alone
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteIraq
- Study dates
- 15 Jan 2026to 26 Apr 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 17 to 20 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Competitive 200-m freestyle swimmers aged 17-20 years. At least 2 years of structured swimming training experience. Free from musculoskeletal injury for at least 6 months before enrollment. No previous regular experience with blood flow restriction training. Willing and able to complete the 8-week training intervention and all study assessments.
Who cannot join
- History of cardiovascular, metabolic, thrombotic, or other vascular conditions that could contraindicate blood flow restriction exercise.
- Current use of medications known to affect vascular tone or blood coagulation. Musculoskeletal injury or medical condition preventing participation in maximal swimming or dry-land training.
- Attendance below 85% of the scheduled intervention sessions.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Cluster Training With Blood Flow Restriction and 200-m Freestyle Performance, FGF-2, and VEGF-A Responses in Competitive Swimmers: A Matched Controlled Study
This study evaluated the effects of adding individualized blood flow restriction (BFR) to cluster resistance training on swimming performance, physical fitness, and selected circulating growth factors in competitive swimmers.
Forty competitive swimmers participated in a matched, non-randomized controlled intervention involving two groups (20 participants per group). The experimental group performed cluster resistance training combined with individualized BFR, whereas the control group completed the same training program without BFR.
Read more
The intervention lasted 10 weeks, comprising five supervised training sessions per week (50 sessions in total). Each 100-minute session included a 15-minute warm-up, 30 minutes of dry-land cluster resistance training, 50 minutes of swimming-specific training, and a 5-minute cool-down.
Dry-land resistance exercises were performed at 60-70% of one-repetition maximum (1RM). BFR pressure was individualized to 50% of arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) for the upper limbs and 60% for the lower limbs. Swimming training intensity was prescribed according to individual maximal heart rate (HRmax).
The primary outcome was the change in 200-m freestyle swimming performance time from baseline to the end of the 10-week intervention. Secondary outcomes included standing long jump performance, mean 50-m split time during a continuous maximal 150-m swim, cadence-controlled Burpee repetitions, and resting serum concentrations of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A).
The study investigated whether individualized BFR combined with cluster resistance training was associated with greater improvements in swimming performance and physiological responses compared with cluster resistance training alone.
Read the detailed description
Blood flow restriction (BFR) training involves the application of pneumatic cuffs to the proximal regions of the limbs to partially restrict arterial inflow and venous return during exercise. Cluster resistance training incorporates brief recovery intervals between small groups of repetitions to reduce fatigue and maintain exercise performance.
This matched, non-randomized controlled study investigated the effects of combining individualized BFR with cluster resistance training on swimming performance, physical fitness, and circulating growth factors in competitive swimmers.
Forty competitive swimmers aged 17-20 years participated in the study. Participants were matched according to sex, baseline 200-m freestyle performance, and standing long jump distance and allocated to two parallel groups: an experimental group (n = 20) performing cluster resistance training with individualized BFR and a control group (n = 20) performing the same training program without BFR.
The intervention lasted 10 weeks, comprising five supervised training sessions per week (50 sessions in total). Each session lasted 100 minutes, consisting of a 15-minute warm-up, an 80-minute main training phase, and a 5-minute cool-down. The main phase included 30 minutes of dry-land cluster resistance training followed by 50 minutes of swimming-specific training.
Dry-land resistance exercises were prescribed at 60-70% of one-repetition maximum (1RM). The experimental group performed the resistance exercises with individualized BFR pressures corresponding to 50% of arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) for the upper limbs and 60% for the lower limbs. The control group performed the same exercises without BFR.
Swimming training intensity was prescribed relative to individually assessed maximal heart rate (HRmax). Weekly intensity targets progressed through 60%, 70%, 75%, 85%, 65%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 100%, and 80% of HRmax across the 10-week intervention. These percentages represented prescribed intensity targets rather than intensities maintained continuously throughout each session.
Swimming performance was assessed using a maximal 200-m freestyle test in a standardized 50-m swimming pool with electronic timing. Additional performance assessments included standing long jump distance, mean 50-m split time during a continuous maximal 150-m swim, and repetitions completed during a cadence-controlled Burpee test.
Resting serum concentrations of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Post-intervention blood samples were collected under standardized fasting conditions 48 hours after the final training session.
The primary outcome was the change in 200-m freestyle performance time from baseline to Week 10. Secondary outcomes included changes in physical-performance measures and resting serum FGF-2 and VEGF-A concentrations.
The study evaluated whether adding individualized BFR to cluster resistance training was associated with greater improvements in swimming performance and selected physiological responses compared with cluster resistance training alone.
- Conditions
- Athletic Performance, Exercise Training
- Being tested
- Cluster Training With Blood Flow Restriction, Cluster Training Alone
- Keywords
- Blood Flow Restriction, Cluster Training, Competitive Swimming, 200-m Freestyle, FGF-2, VEGF-A
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Cluster Training With Blood Flow RestrictionBehavioural
An 8-week cluster-training program performed five sessions per week, with blood flow restriction applied during selected dry-land cluster exercises using pneumatic cuffs positioned proximally on the upper arms and thighs.
Cluster Training AloneBehavioural
An 8-week cluster-training program performed five sessions per week without blood flow restriction.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Cluster Training With Blood Flow Restriction | Experimental | Participants in this arm completed an 8-week cluster-training program combined with blood flow restriction (BFR). Training was performed five sessions per week. Pneumatic cuffs were applied proximally to the upper arms and thighs during selected dry-land cluster exercises and intra-set recovery periods, and were deflated during the main inter-set recovery periods. Receives: Behavioral: Cluster Training With Blood Flow Restriction |
| Cluster Training Alone | Active comparator | Participants in this arm completed the same 8-week cluster-training program and overall training schedule as the experimental group, but without blood flow restriction. Training was performed five sessions per week. Receives: Behavioral: Cluster Training Alone |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in 200-m Freestyle Performance Time
Performance was assessed during a maximal 200-m freestyle swim in a standard 50-m pool using an electronic timing system with a precision of 0.01 s. Lower values indicate faster performance. The primary outcome was the change in performance time from baseline to the end of the 10-week intervention.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 10)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Aug 2026
- Study start15 Jan 2026
- Primary completion19 Apr 2026
- Study completion26 Apr 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Athletic PerformanceStudies 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants were assigned to two parallel groups using a non-randomized matched-allocation approach. The experimental group received cluster training combined with blood flow restriction, whereas the control group received cluster training alone.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Saif Rasheed Ghanim
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Saif Rasheed Ghanim, Samarra University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07786129
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SRG-BFR-SWIM-2026-01
- Acronym
- BFR-CLUSTER-SW
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 21 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Cluster Training With Blood Flow Restriction and 200-m Freestyle Performance, FGF-2, and VEGF-A Responses in Competitive Swimmers: A Matched Controlled Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07786129
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- BFR-CLUSTER-SW / SRG-BFR-SWIM-2026-01
- Conditions
- Athletic Performance, Exercise Training
- Keywords
- Blood Flow Restriction, Cluster Training, Competitive Swimming, 200-m Freestyle, FGF-2, VEGF-A
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Saif Rasheed GhanimUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 19 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 26 Apr 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 25 Aug 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 evaluated the effects of adding individualized blood flow restriction (BFR) to cluster resistance training on swimming performance, physical fitness, and selected circulating growth factors in competitive swimmers.
Forty competitive swimmers participated in a matched, non-randomized controlled intervention involving two groups (20 participants per group). The experimental group performed cluster resistance training combined with individualized BFR, whereas the control group completed the same training program without BFR.
The intervention lasted 10 weeks, comprising five supervised training sessions per week (50 sessions in total). Each 100-minute session included a 15-minute warm-up, 30 minutes of dry-land cluster resistance training, 50 minutes of swimming-specific training, and a 5-minute cool-down.
Dry-land resistance exercises were performed at 60-70% of one-repetition maximum (1RM). BFR pressure was individualized to 50% of arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) for the upper limbs and 60% for the lower limbs. Swimming training intensity was prescribed according to individual maximal heart rate (HRmax).
The primary outcome was the change in 200-m freestyle swimming performance time from baseline to the end of the 10-week intervention. Secondary outcomes included standing long jump performance, mean 50-m split time during a continuous maximal 150-m swim, cadence-controlled Burpee repetitions, and resting serum concentrations of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A).
The study investigated whether individualized BFR combined with cluster resistance training was associated with greater improvements in swimming performance and physiological responses compared with cluster resistance training alone.
Detailed description
Blood flow restriction (BFR) training involves the application of pneumatic cuffs to the proximal regions of the limbs to partially restrict arterial inflow and venous return during exercise. Cluster resistance training incorporates brief recovery intervals between small groups of repetitions to reduce fatigue and maintain exercise performance.
This matched, non-randomized controlled study investigated the effects of combining individualized BFR with cluster resistance training on swimming performance, physical fitness, and circulating growth factors in competitive swimmers.
Forty competitive swimmers aged 17-20 years participated in the study. Participants were matched according to sex, baseline 200-m freestyle performance, and standing long jump distance and allocated to two parallel groups: an experimental group (n = 20) performing cluster resistance training with individualized BFR and a control group (n = 20) performing the same training program without BFR.
The intervention lasted 10 weeks, comprising five supervised training sessions per week (50 sessions in total). Each session lasted 100 minutes, consisting of a 15-minute warm-up, an 80-minute main training phase, and a 5-minute cool-down. The main phase included 30 minutes of dry-land cluster resistance training followed by 50 minutes of swimming-specific training.
Dry-land resistance exercises were prescribed at 60-70% of one-repetition maximum (1RM). The experimental group performed the resistance exercises with individualized BFR pressures corresponding to 50% of arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) for the upper limbs and 60% for the lower limbs. The control group performed the same exercises without BFR.
Swimming training intensity was prescribed relative to individually assessed maximal heart rate (HRmax). Weekly intensity targets progressed through 60%, 70%, 75%, 85%, 65%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 100%, and 80% of HRmax across the 10-week intervention. These percentages represented prescribed intensity targets rather than intensities maintained continuously throughout each session.
Swimming performance was assessed using a maximal 200-m freestyle test in a standardized 50-m swimming pool with electronic timing. Additional performance assessments included standing long jump distance, mean 50-m split time during a continuous maximal 150-m swim, and repetitions completed during a cadence-controlled Burpee test.
Resting serum concentrations of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Post-intervention blood samples were collected under standardized fasting conditions 48 hours after the final training session.
The primary outcome was the change in 200-m freestyle performance time from baseline to Week 10. Secondary outcomes included changes in physical-performance measures and resting serum FGF-2 and VEGF-A concentrations.
The study evaluated whether adding individualized BFR to cluster resistance training was associated with greater improvements in swimming performance and selected physiological responses compared with cluster resistance training alone.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants were assigned to two parallel groups using a non-randomized matched-allocation approach. The experimental group received cluster training combined with blood flow restriction, whereas the control group received cluster training alone.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Cluster Training With Blood Flow Restriction | Experimental | Behavioral: Cluster Training With Blood Flow RestrictionParticipants in this arm completed an 8-week cluster-training program combined with blood flow restriction (BFR). Training was performed five sessions per week. Pneumatic cuffs were applied proximally to the upper arms and thighs during selected dry-land cluster exercises and intra-set recovery periods, and were deflated during the main inter-set recovery periods. |
| Cluster Training Alone | Active comparator | Behavioral: Cluster Training AloneParticipants in this arm completed the same 8-week cluster-training program and overall training schedule as the experimental group, but without blood flow restriction. Training was performed five sessions per week. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 17 to 20 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Competitive 200-m freestyle swimmers aged 17-20 years. At least 2 years of structured swimming training experience. Free from musculoskeletal injury for at least 6 months before enrollment. No previous regular experience with blood flow restriction training. Willing and able to complete the 8-week training intervention and all study assessments.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- History of cardiovascular, metabolic, thrombotic, or other vascular conditions that could contraindicate blood flow restriction exercise.
- Current use of medications known to affect vascular tone or blood coagulation. Musculoskeletal injury or medical condition preventing participation in maximal swimming or dry-land training.
- Attendance below 85% of the scheduled intervention sessions.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cluster Training With Blood Flow RestrictionAn 8-week cluster-training program performed five sessions per week, with blood flow restriction applied during selected dry-land cluster exercises using pneumatic cuffs positioned proximally on the upper arms and thighs. | Behavioural | Cluster Training With Blood Flow Restriction |
| Cluster Training AloneAn 8-week cluster-training program performed five sessions per week without blood flow restriction. | Behavioural | Cluster Training Alone |
Primary outcome
Change in 200-m Freestyle Performance Time
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 10)
Performance was assessed during a maximal 200-m freestyle swim in a standard 50-m pool using an electronic timing system with a precision of 0.01 s. Lower values indicate faster performance. The primary outcome was the change in performance time from baseline to the end of the 10-week intervention.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 Oct 2026.
- 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. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Cluster Training With Blood Flow Restriction and Cluster Training Alone in people with Athletic Performance and Exercise Training, run by Saif Rasheed Ghanim at 1 site in Iraq.
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 1 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Oct 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 Iraq. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in 200-m Freestyle Performance Time (time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 10)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 16 Oct 2026.