Acute Autonomic Responses During and After BFR Training

Sponsor
Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL
Study ID
NCT07722403
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • Aging
  • Blood Flow Restriction Exercise

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • High-Intensity Resistance Training (HIRT) — OTHER
    Participants perform bilateral knee extensions and leg curls at 75% of their one-repetition maximum (1RM). The protocol consists of 3 sets of 10 repetitions with 2-minute rest intervals between sets. Total exercise duration is approximately 30 minutes.
  • Low-Intensity Resistance Training with Blood Flow Restriction (LIRT-BFR) — OTHER
    Participants perform bilateral knee extensions and leg curls at 30% of their one-repetition maximum (1RM) while a pneumatic cuff is applied to the most proximal portion of both thighs. The cuff is inflated to 1.3 times the individual's ankle systolic blood pressure. The protocol consists of 4 sets of 20 repetitions with 30-second rest intervals between sets. Total exercise duration is approximately 30 minutes. Cuff pressure is maintained continuously throughout sets and rest periods and is released immediately after the final repetition.

Study Details

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare how the body's nervous system responds to two different types of leg exercise in young and older adults. One type is low-intensity exercise with blood flow restriction (BFR) , where a cuff partially reduces blood flow to the legs during exercise. The other type is traditional high-intensity resistance training (HIRT), which uses heavier weights. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does low-intensity exercise with BFR cause less stress on the nervous system during exercise compared to high-intensity training? Does low-intensity exercise with BFR lead to faster recovery of the nervous system after exercise compared to high-intensity training? Do these responses differ between young adults and older adults? Researchers will compare low-intensity exercise with BFR to high-intensity training to see which approach is gentler on the nervous system during and after exercise. Participants will: Attend three visits to the research lab Complete a strength test on leg exercise machines Perform two separate exercise sessions: one with low-intensity exercise and BFR, and one with high-intensity training Have their heart rate, blood pressure, and heart rate variability monitored continuously during and after each exercise session

Key Dates

First listed
Jul 23, 2026
Start date
Oct 5, 2026
Status verified
Jul 2026
Primary completion
May 14, 2027
Completion
Jun 25, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
48 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Arms

  • Experimental: Low-Intensity + Blood Flow Restriction
  • Active Comparator: High-Intensity Resistance Training (HIRT)
  • No Intervention: No exercise or blood flow restriction

Primary Outcome Measure

Changes in Time-Domain Heart Rate Variability Indices [ Time Frame: Baseline (15-minute seated rest); during exercise (continuous throughout the 30-minute exercise bout); and 30 minutes into recovery (seated position) ]

Central Contacts

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