High Intensity Resistance Training Combined With Blood Flow Restricted Exercise in Elite Handball Players

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Purpose of the study is: to investigate the effects of 8 weeks intervention of high intensity resistance training(HIRT) combined with Blood Flow Restricted Exercise (BFRE) compared to high intensity resistance training alone. Detailed Description: 30 elite handball players will be randomized into 2 groups of 15 participants each. Participants will be evaluated in the week before and the week after an 8-weeks training intervention with 2 weekly sessions. Based on their baseline muscle strength the participants will be randomized into two groups: HIRT-BFRE or HIRT-HIRT. Participants in both groups will perform a full-body training programme of HIRT. After the Full-body programme, Back squat exercise with low intensity and Blood flow restriction will be performed to the HIRT-BFRE group and back squat exercise with high intensity without blood flow restriction will be performed by HIRT-HIRT. Evaluation protocol includes: muscle strength measurement with 1 repetition maximum of Back squat and knee extension, muscle mass with Dual-Energy X-ray absorptiometry, muscle thickness of the thigh with ultra sound measurement, vertical jump height with linear Encoder, sprint performance with 30m sprint time.

Official Title
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High Intensity Resistance Training Combined With Blood Flow Restricted Exercise in Elite Handball Players

Conditions
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Hypertrophy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Resistance training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age >= 18 years Ds Minimum of 2 years of resistance training experience >< Two resistance training sessions each week >< three handball sessions each week No injuries that prevent participants to perform test of maximal muscle strength No injuries, that affects the muscle strength or the ability to train Exclusion Criteria: Elevated blood pressure (>140/90) Anabolic steroids or prescription-only medical products with know or potential effect on muscle hypertrophy

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: RT + BFRE<br>High intensity Resistance training combined with Blood Flow | Behavioral: Resistance training<br>* A full-training programme with high intensity followed by back squat exercise with blood flow restriction. Inflatable cuffs will be placed proximally on both thighs. The cuff pressure will be 50% of individual arterial occlusion pressure and will be maintained during the rest intervals. Participants will perform 30, 15, 15 and 15 repetitions of 30% of 1 Repetition Maximum. Totally 75 repetitions will be performed. 45 seconds rest interval between sets will be given.<br>|
| Active Comparator: RT<br>Resistance training alone | Behavioral: Resistance training<br>* A full-training programme with high intensity followed by back squat exercise with blood flow restriction. Inflatable cuffs will be placed proximally on both thighs. The cuff pressure will be 50% of individual arterial occlusion pressure and will be maintained during the rest intervals. Participants will perform 30, 15, 15 and 15 repetitions of 30% of 1 Repetition Maximum. Totally 75 repetitions will be performed. 45 seconds rest interval between sets will be given.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Maximal Muscle Strength | Change in 1 RM (repetition maximum) muscle strength in back squat | Baseline measurements at week 1, after four weeks of exercise at week 5 and post intervention at week 10. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Lean body mass | Change in lean body mass assessed by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry | Baseline measurements at week 1 and post intervention at week 10. | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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The focus is blood flow restricted exercise