CLINICAL TRIAL article
Front. Physiol.
Sec. Exercise Physiology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1670071
This article is part of the Research TopicImpact of Blood Flow Restriction Device Features and Methodological Considerations on Acute- and Longitudinal Responses to Blood Flow Restricted ExerciseView all 19 articles
The Impact of Blood Flow Restriction Combined with Variable Resistance Training at Different Loads on Lower Limb Strength and Explosiveness in Collegiate Basketball Players
Provisionally accepted
- School of Athletic Training, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China
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Abstract: This study compared the effects of an 8-week program of low-load blood flow restriction training (BFRT) combined with chain-based variable resistance training (BFR-VRT) and high-load chain-based variable resistance training (VRT) on lower-limb performance in male college basketball players. A total of 27 players were randomly assigned to the BFR-VRT group (n = 9), the VRT group (n = 9), or a control group (n = 9). The BFR-VRT protocol used pneumatic cuffs applied to the proximal thighs, with training pressure set at 180 mmHg, and combined a 10% 1RM barbell load with 10–30% 1RM from chains, whereas the VRT protocol consisted of a 55% 1RM barbell load plus 10–30% 1RM from chains. The control group did not receive any resistance training.Repeated-measures Repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant within-group improvements in SQ-1RM, LTC, RTC, CMJ, SJ, DJ-RSI, SLJ, and 30-m in both the BFR-VRT and VRT groups (all p < 0.05), whereas the CON group showed no significant change (p > 0.05). Between-group comparisons indicated no significant differences among the three groups on these outcomes (all p > 0.05).In conclusion, both BFR-VRT and VRT improved lower-limb performance; under a lower external load, BFR-VRT showed effects comparable to, or trending greater than, VRT on certain performance measures.
Keywords: Blood flow restriction training, Chain variable resistance training, College male basketball player, Lower limb sports performance, Athletic Performance
Received: 21 Jul 2025; Accepted: 08 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Peng, Zhang, Lu, Li, Li, Sun and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Guoxing Li, 11077@gzsport.edu.cn
Jian Sun, sunjian@gzsport.edu.cn
Duanying Li, liduany@gzsport.edu.cn
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