BFR Training on a Bike to Augment RC Strength, Leg Strength, and VO2 Peak

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Can BFR Cycling Augment Strength and VO2peak
• Interventions: Other: BFR cycling; Other: Cycling without BFR

• Registration Number: NCT05344391
• Lead Sponsor: George Fox University

Brief Summary

This study will investigate if subjects who bike at 40% of heart rate reserve (HRR) with blood flow restriction (BFR) applied to bilateral thighs for 10 minutes (at 80% limb occlusion pressure) will experience greater gains in 10 rep max for dominant lower extremity leg press, greater gains in rotator cuff strength (hand held dynamometer testing for supraspinatus and external rotators) and greater gains in VO2 peak.

Detailed Description

This study will randomize healthy adult subjects to one of two groups: a BFR biking group that performs 10 min of cycling at 40% heart rate reserve (HRR) with bilateral occlusion applied to the proximal thighs (80% LOP) or to a non-biking BFR group perform 10 min of cycling at 40% HRR. After each cycling session subjects will perform 3x15 of the scaption exercise and 3x15 sidelying external rotation with their dominant upper extremity. They will initially start training the shoulder at 30% of 1RM (estimated from an equation formula) for the first 2 weeks followed by increasing training load by 1lbs each exercise every 2 weeks. The training program will last 6 weeks (3x week for 6 weeks, total of 18 sessions).

Pretest and posttests will include: VO2 peak testing on a cycle using Cosmed metabolic cart, hand held dynamometry to measure strength of the supraspinatus and external rotators of the shoulder using traditional manual muscle test positions, and on a separate day 10RM testing on a leg press for the dominant lower extremity.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2022-04
• Study Start: 2022-04-10
• Study First Submitted: 2022-04-19
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-04-22
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-04-22
• Study First Posted: 2022-04-25
• Last Update Posted: 2022-04-25
• Primary Completion: 2023-01-30
• Study Completion: 2023-01-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 50

Inclusion Criteria

healthy adults (18 yrs of age and older) -

Exclusion Criteria

no current musculoskeletal symptoms/injuries; no prior lower extremity or shoulder/upper extremity surgery (dominant) during the prior year; no contraindications to BFR training

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
BFR cycling	BFR cycling	This group will perform cycling with BFR applied bilaterally at 80% LOP for 10 min and cycling at 40% HRR. Next they will perform 3x15 of the scaption and sidelying external rotation exercises. These will initially be performed at 30% 1RM; every 2 weeks load increased by 1lbs.
Cycling without BFR	Cycling without BFR	This group will perform cycling and the same shoulder exercises using the same training parameters; however, BFR will not be applied.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
VO2peak	6 weeks	Pretest/posttest measures of VO2peak performance on the bicycle using Cosmed Metabolic Cart
Shoulder Strength	6 weeks	Using a Hand Held Dynamometer; shoulder strength will be measured pretest/posttest for teh supraspinatus and the shoulder external rotators (dominant UE)
10 RM unilateral leg press for the dominant lower extremity	6 weeks	Test 10 RM strength on the leg press for the dominant LE/ pretest/posttest

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

College of Physical Therapy / George Fox University; 🇺🇸 Newberg, Oregon, United States

George Fox University School of Physical Therapy; 🇺🇸 Newberg, Oregon, United States