Clinical trial NCT06874829: Post-Activation Performance Enhancement in Single and Multi-Joint Exercises With BFR and EMS in Male Volleyball Players
Official title: Post-activation Performance Enhancement in Multi- vs Single-Joint Movements: A Comparative Study of BFR and EMS in Male Volleyball Athletes
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Volleyball Players
Post Activation Potentiation
Muscle Strength
Keywords: Post-activation performance
Blood Flow Restriction Exercise
volleyball
Hand Grip Strength
Service Speed
Lead sponsor: Karabuk University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-03-13
Enrollment: 15
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 30
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Intervention model description: Crossover Assignment
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Investigators used a randomized controlled crossover design to compare the effect of blood flow restriction (BFR) and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) protocols on post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) in multi-joint versus single-joint exercises. Participants took part in six test sessions 72 hours apart. In the BFR group, 50% of the arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) was used. In the EMS group, a 75 Hz current was applied. In the Low Resistance exercise group, only exercise was performed without any condition. Bench press (multi-joint) and triceps push-down (single-joint) exercises were used in the conditions.

Detailed description: Participants took part in six test sessions 72 hours apart. All tests were performed between 2 and 4 pm to reduce the influence of circadian rhythms or fatigue on performance. Anthropometric measurements, 1 RM test, and grip strength and serving speed tests were determined before the practice session on the first day as a control condition. On the other six experimental days, players were randomly assigned to protocols (BFR, EMS, and LOW-LOAD) using software (http://www.randomizer.org). In the BFR group, 50% of the arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) was used. In the EMS group, a 75 Hz current was applied. In the Low Resistance exercise group, only exercise was performed without any condition. Bench press (multi-joint) and triceps push-down (single-joint) exercises were used in the conditions. In all protocols, participants performed a standardized warm-up protocol consisting of a 5-minute run at 9 km/h on a treadmill and a general warm-up consisting of 3 minutes of whole-body light stretching exercises. Following the warm-up and pre-exercise protocols, grip strength and service speed tests were performed with rest periods.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Being healthy
* Male volleyball athletes
* Willing to maintain the intervention for all sessions

Exclusion Criteria:

* Being under 18 years old
* Having a chronic disease
* Contraindication for Electromyostimulation (EMS)
* Contraindication for Blood Flow Restriction (BFR)
* Contraindications for exercise

Primary outcomes:
measure: Service speed
timeFrame: From baseline to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
measure: Hand Grip strength
timeFrame: From baseline to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
measure: Bench Press 1Repetition maximum Test
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Triceps Push Down 1 repetition maximum Test
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Anthropometric Measurements 1
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Anthropometric Measurements 2
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Anthropometric Measurements 3
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Anthropometric Measurements 4
timeFrame: Baseline
Locations:
city: Karabük
country: Turkey
facility: Karabuk University
Study officials:
affiliation: Karabuk University
name: Neslihan AKCAY, Doctorate
role: STUDY_CHAIR
References:
citation: Keskin K, Akcay N, Ozmen T, Contarli N, Yildiz KC, Sofuoglu C, Kamis O, Rolnick N, de Queiros VS, Montoye A. Effects of different pre-exercise strategies on jumping performance in female volleyball players. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2025 Jan;65(1):59-68. doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.24.16196-8. Epub 2024 Oct 3.