Minimal Equipment Training Approach to Improve Warfighter Performance
Condition: Healthy; Military Operations
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The purpose of this project is to compare a minimal equipment training program with and
      without blood flow restriction (BFR) training to periodized concurrent resistance and
      endurance training. The outcomes of interest are Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) performance
      along with laboratory measures of performance, which include body composition, power,
      strength, and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max). Additionally, based on the role of
      mechanical tension in connective tissue adaptation and the importance for chronic
      musculoskeletal health, tendon architecture will be assessed as well. Lastly, specific
      blood-based biomarkers will be analyzed in conjunction with questionnaires to determine the
      systemic physiological and psychological responses to training. Participants will be
      randomized into one of three training groups and will follow their respective program for 6
      weeks. The three groups are traditional concurrent resistance and endurance training, minimal
      equipment training, and minimal equipment training with blood flow restriction (BFR).
    

Detailed description: 
      The efficacy of minimal equipment training programs with an emphasis on resistance training
      has seldom been assessed and compared to traditional strength training. Common training
      strategies include traditional high-to-moderate load resistance training and low-to-moderate
      load field training using minimal equipment. The benefit of traditional CT is likely due to
      the higher loads relative to 1-repetition maximum (1RM) utilized and overall amount of
      mechanical stress incurred. It is difficult to mimic this loading with minimal equipment
      training, which is often performed at low loads relative to 1RM. However, one strategy to
      improve the effectiveness of minimal equipment training may be the addition of blood flow
      restriction (BFR) training. Due to the relatively low loads (20-70% 1RM) of minimal equipment
      training, BFR training not only provides athletes with a novel training modality to elicit
      hypertrophic and strength adaptation but also to augment recovery as a supplemental
      low-damage, high-volume training method. The research design will allow for the direct
      comparison of minimal equipment training with and without additional BFR training to
      periodized CT with regard to changes in outcomes, in particular, ACFT performance.
    

Intervention name(s): Traditional equipment resistance training; Minimal equipment resistance training; Blood flow restriction training
Intervention type(s): Other; Other; Other
Intervention description(s): Participants will undergo 6 weeks of traditional equipment resistance training; Participants will undergo 6 weeks of minimal equipment resistance training; Participants will undergo 6 weeks of blood flow restriction training
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment