Swimming PerformanceNCT07786597
The Effect of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Swimming Performance in Swimmers
A study testing Practical Blood Flow Restriction Bands and Traditional Swimming Training in people with Swimming Performance, run by Istanbul Gelisim University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of practical blood flow restriction (pBFR) applied during swimming training on sprint and endurance performance in master swimmers. Fifty-four male master swimmers (36-51 years) were randomly assigned to either a pBFR group (n = 27) or a control group (n = 27). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 36 to 51 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Swimming Performance
- What is being tested?
- Practical Blood Flow Restriction Bands and Traditional Swimming Training
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 54 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 8 Feb 2024to 5 Mar 2025
- 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 36 to 51 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- * Voluntary participation with signed written informed consent
Who cannot join
- * History of hypertension, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease
- History of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism
- Neurological disorders or rheumatic diseases
- Obesity or any other chronic condition
- Sports-related injury within the previous 6 months
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of practical blood flow restriction (pBFR) applied during swimming training on sprint and endurance performance in master swimmers. Fifty-four male master swimmers (36-51 years) were randomly assigned to either a pBFR group (n = 27) or a control group (n = 27). Both groups followed the same swimming training programme twice weekly for eight weeks. In the pBFR group, elastic bands were applied to the proximal region of both thighs at a perceived tightness level of 7/10 during approximately 20 min of low-intensity swimming performed at the beginning of each training session. Performance was assessed using a 50-m freestyle kick test, a 100-m freestyle swimming test, and a 12-min Cooper swimming test.
Read the detailed description
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of practical blood flow restriction (pBFR) applied during swimming training on sprint and endurance performance in master swimmers. Fifty-four male master swimmers (36-51 years) were randomly assigned to either a pBFR group (n = 27) or a control group (n = 27). Both groups followed the same swimming training programme twice weekly for eight weeks. In the pBFR group, elastic bands were applied to the proximal region of both thighs at a perceived tightness level of 7/10 during approximately 20 min of low-intensity swimming performed at the beginning of each training session. Performance was assessed using a 50-m freestyle kick test, a 100-m freestyle swimming test, and a 12-min Cooper swimming test.
- Conditions
- Swimming Performance
- Being tested
- Practical Blood Flow Restriction Bands, Traditional Swimming Training
- Keywords
- Practical blood flow restriction (pBFR), swimming performance, master swimmers
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Practical Blood Flow Restriction BandsDevice
Practical blood flow restriction was applied during swimming training using elastic bands on the proximal thighs.
Traditional Swimming TrainingOther
Participants in the control group performed standard swimming training without blood flow restriction.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group | Experimental | Blood Flow Restriction Swimming Training Receives: Device: Practical Blood Flow Restriction Bands |
| Control Group | Active comparator | No Intervention Receives: Other: Traditional Swimming Training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Cooper 12-Minute Swimming Test
Cooper 12-Minute Swimming Test Swimmers were asked to swim continuously in freestyle for 12 minutes, covering the maximum possible distance. The test began with a push-off from the pool wall, and turns were performed using the appropriate technique. Participants were informed to stop immediately if they would experience symptoms such as shortness of breath or inability to continue swimming. The total distance covered in 12 minutes was recorded in meters.
Measured: Pre-intervention and post-intervention at 8 weeks
Short-distance kicking performance test
Swimmers completed the test distance using only leg kicks while holding a kickboard, without performing arm strokes. This sprint test was designed to assess the propulsive force generated by the lower limbs. The test started with a push-off from the pool wall, and turns were executed by pushing off the wall. Time was recorded in seconds.
Measured: Baseline and 8 weeks
100 m Freestyle Swimming Test
The test began with a dive start and included turns performed according to FINA rules. Swimming time was recorded using three independent stopwatches, and the mean value of the three measurements was used for statistical analysis.
Measured: Baseline and 8 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Aug 2026
- Study start8 Feb 2024
- Primary completion10 Jun 2024
- Study completion5 Mar 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Swimming 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
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul Gelisim University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Meltem ÖZAĞIR, Istanbul Gelisim University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07786597
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 941629
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 20 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 26 Aug 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 26 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Swimming Performance in Swimmers
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07786597
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 941629
- Conditions
- Swimming Performance
- Keywords
- Practical blood flow restriction (pBFR), swimming performance, master swimmers
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul Gelisim UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
- Study start
- 8 Feb 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 Jun 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 5 Mar 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 26 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.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of practical blood flow restriction (pBFR) applied during swimming training on sprint and endurance performance in master swimmers. Fifty-four male master swimmers (36-51 years) were randomly assigned to either a pBFR group (n = 27) or a control group (n = 27). Both groups followed the same swimming training programme twice weekly for eight weeks. In the pBFR group, elastic bands were applied to the proximal region of both thighs at a perceived tightness level of 7/10 during approximately 20 min of low-intensity swimming performed at the beginning of each training session. Performance was assessed using a 50-m freestyle kick test, a 100-m freestyle swimming test, and a 12-min Cooper swimming test.
Detailed description
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of practical blood flow restriction (pBFR) applied during swimming training on sprint and endurance performance in master swimmers. Fifty-four male master swimmers (36-51 years) were randomly assigned to either a pBFR group (n = 27) or a control group (n = 27). Both groups followed the same swimming training programme twice weekly for eight weeks. In the pBFR group, elastic bands were applied to the proximal region of both thighs at a perceived tightness level of 7/10 during approximately 20 min of low-intensity swimming performed at the beginning of each training session. Performance was assessed using a 50-m freestyle kick test, a 100-m freestyle swimming test, and a 12-min Cooper swimming test.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group | Experimental | Device: Practical Blood Flow Restriction BandsBlood Flow Restriction Swimming Training |
| Control Group | Active comparator | Other: Traditional Swimming TrainingNo Intervention |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 36 to 51 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- * Voluntary participation with signed written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- * History of hypertension, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Practical Blood Flow Restriction BandsPractical blood flow restriction was applied during swimming training using elastic bands on the proximal thighs. | Device | Experimental Group |
| Traditional Swimming TrainingParticipants in the control group performed standard swimming training without blood flow restriction. | Other | Control Group |
Primary outcome
Cooper 12-Minute Swimming Test
Time frame: Pre-intervention and post-intervention at 8 weeks
Cooper 12-Minute Swimming Test Swimmers were asked to swim continuously in freestyle for 12 minutes, covering the maximum possible distance. The test began with a push-off from the pool wall, and turns were performed using the appropriate technique. Participants were informed to stop immediately if they would experience symptoms such as shortness of breath or inability to continue swimming. The total distance covered in 12 minutes was recorded in meters.
Short-distance kicking performance test
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Swimmers completed the test distance using only leg kicks while holding a kickboard, without performing arm strokes. This sprint test was designed to assess the propulsive force generated by the lower limbs. The test started with a push-off from the pool wall, and turns were executed by pushing off the wall. Time was recorded in seconds.
100 m Freestyle Swimming Test
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
The test began with a dive start and included turns performed according to FINA rules. Swimming time was recorded using three independent stopwatches, and the mean value of the three measurements was used for statistical analysis.
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 26 Aug 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 Practical Blood Flow Restriction Bands and Traditional Swimming Training in people with Swimming Performance, run by Istanbul Gelisim 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 1 inclusion and 5 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 26 Aug 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?
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?
Cooper 12-Minute Swimming Test (time frame: Pre-intervention and post-intervention at 8 weeks). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. 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 26 Aug 2026.