Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Exercises on Lumbar Muscle Endurance and Balance in Healthy Young Adults (BFR-LUMBEX)

September 14, 2025 updated by: Mehmet Akif Guler

Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Sit-to-Stand Exercises on Lumbar Extensor Muscle Endurance, Balance, and Physiological Parameters in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aims to examine the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) exercises on back muscle endurance and balance in healthy young adults. BFR is a training method that involves applying controlled pressure to the limbs with a cuff while performing simple exercises. It has been shown to improve muscle strength and endurance even at low exercise loads, reducing stress on the joints.

In this study, participants aged 20 to 25 years will be randomly assigned to two groups. One group will perform sit-to-stand (STS) exercises combined with BFR, while the other group will perform the same exercises without BFR. The exercise program will last 6 weeks, with 2 sessions per week.

Before and after the program, participants will be assessed for:

Lumbar extensor muscle endurance (using the Biering-Sørensen test)

Balance performance (using a computerized balance platform)

Physiological responses such as oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure

The purpose of this research is to determine whether BFR exercises improve spinal muscle endurance and balance more effectively than standard sit-to-stand exercises. The results may provide new insights into the use of BFR training as a safe and practical strategy for improving posture, preventing back problems, and enhancing physical performance in young adults.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Detailed Description:

Low back muscle endurance and postural balance are essential components of physical health, functional capacity, and injury prevention. Weakness or fatigue in lumbar extensor muscles is associated with spinal instability, poor posture, and an increased risk of low back pain. Similarly, reduced balance control may impair daily activities and athletic performance. Sedentary lifestyles and prolonged sitting are known to negatively affect these functions in young adults.

Blood flow restriction (BFR) training is an innovative exercise method in which a cuff is applied to partially restrict blood flow in the exercising limb during low-load resistance or functional exercises. This technique has been shown to enhance muscle strength, hypertrophy, and endurance with relatively low mechanical stress, thereby reducing the potential risks associated with high-intensity training. While BFR has been studied extensively in the context of lower-limb strength training, its effects on spinal musculature and balance performance are not well understood.

The present randomized controlled trial is designed to investigate the effects of BFR applied during sit-to-stand (STS) exercises on lumbar extensor muscle endurance and balance performance in healthy young adults. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:

BFR Exercise Group: STS exercises performed with BFR applied to the thigh.

Control Group: STS exercises performed without BFR.

The intervention will last six weeks, with two supervised exercise sessions per week. The BFR cuff pressure will be set at 60-80% of the individual's systolic blood pressure and monitored to ensure participant safety.

Assessments will be conducted at baseline and after the six-week training program. The primary outcomes are lumbar extensor endurance, measured with the Biering-Sørensen test, and postural balance, assessed using a computerized balance platform. Secondary outcomes include oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure responses before and after exercise sessions.

The study hypothesizes that participants in the BFR exercise group will show greater improvements in lumbar muscle endurance and balance compared to the control group. Findings from this trial will help clarify whether BFR-based functional training can be considered a safe and effective method not only for enhancing muscle performance but also for improving postural stability in healthy individuals. This may have future applications in sports performance, preventive strategies for low back disorders, and rehabilitation programs for populations with musculoskeletal impairments.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

70

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Konya
      • Konya, Konya, Turkey (Türkiye), 42130
        • Selcuk University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age between 20 and 25 years
  • Healthy, without musculoskeletal disorders
  • No chronic neurological or systemic disease
  • No regular exercise program in the last 3 months
  • Voluntary participation with signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of musculoskeletal disease, injury, or chronic low back pain
  • Neurological conditions or regular use of medications affecting balance or cardiovascular function
  • Pregnancy
  • Participation in regular lumbar or core exercise programs within the last 3 months
  • Any symptoms during exercise (e.g., excessive fatigue, dizziness, abnormal blood pressure changes) that may pose health risks
  • Withdrawal of consent or inability to comply with study protocol

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Blood Flow Restriction Exercise Group
Participants in this arm will perform sit-to-stand exercises combined with blood flow restriction (BFR) using a pneumatic cuff applied to the thigh. The cuff pressure will be set to 60-80% of the participant's systolic blood pressure. The program will be conducted for 6 weeks, with 2 sessions per week, supervised by a physiotherapist.
Behavioral: Blood Flow Restriction Sit-to-Stand Exercise
Participants perform sit-to-stand (STS) exercises with blood flow restriction applied using a pneumatic cuff placed on the thigh. Cuff pressure is set at 60-80% of the participant's systolic blood pressure. Sessions are supervised by a physiotherapist twice per week for six weeks.
Active Comparator: Control Exercise Group
Participants in this arm will perform the same sit-to-stand exercise protocol as the experimental group, but without blood flow restriction. Sessions will also be supervised twice weekly for 6 weeks, and assessments will be performed before and after the intervention.
Behavioral: Sit-to-Stand Exercise without Blood Flow Restriction
Participants perform the same sit-to-stand (STS) exercise protocol as the experimental group, but without blood flow restriction. Sessions are supervised twice weekly for six weeks, and outcomes are assessed before and after the program.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Lumbar Extensor Muscle Endurance
Time Frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention
Endurance of the lumbar extensor muscles will be assessed using the Biering-Sørensen Test. Participants maintain the upper body in a horizontal position while lying prone with the pelvis stabilized. The test duration (in seconds) until trunk decline >5-10° will be recorded.
Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention
Postural Balance Performance
Time Frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention
Balance performance will be evaluated using a computerized balance platform (TechnoBody™ Pro-Kin). Both static and dynamic balance parameters will be recorded. Outcome measures include sway area (cm²), sway velocity (cm/s), and postural stability index.
Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Oxygen Saturation
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after exercise sessions (pre- and post-intervention at 6 weeks)
Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂, %) will be measured using a pulse oximeter placed on the finger. Measurements will be taken before and after exercise sessions, and changes from baseline to week 6 will be recorded.
Baseline and immediately after exercise sessions (pre- and post-intervention at 6 weeks)
Change in Blood Pressure
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after exercise sessions (pre- and post-intervention at 6 weeks)
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be measured using a validated digital sphygmomanometer. Measurements will be taken at rest before and after exercise sessions. The change from baseline to week 6 will be compared between groups.
Baseline and immediately after exercise sessions (pre- and post-intervention at 6 weeks)
Change in Body Mass Index (BMI)
Time Frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention
Body mass index (kg/m²) will be calculated from height and weight measured with a digital body composition analyzer (Tanita device). Changes from baseline to week 6 will be analyzed.
Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Mehmet Akif Guler

Collaborators

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Mehmet Akif Güler, PhD, PT, Selcuk University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

September 29, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

November 30, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

November 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 14, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 14, 2025

First Posted (Estimated)

September 19, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

September 19, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 14, 2025

Last Verified

September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 1919B012413960 (Other Grant/Funding Number: TUBİTAK)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

De-identified individual participant data (IPD) related to primary and secondary outcomes will be available upon reasonable request from qualified researchers after publication of study results. Data will be shared through secure institutional repositories in compliance with Selçuk University ethical guidelines.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

De-identified individual participant data (IPD) and supporting documents will be available beginning 6 months after publication of the primary results and will be accessible for a period of 5 years thereafter.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

IPD will be available to qualified researchers affiliated with academic or healthcare institutions upon reasonable request. Requests will be reviewed by the principal investigator and Selçuk University Ethics Committee. Approved researchers will gain access through a secure institutional repository with appropriate data use agreements to ensure participant confidentiality.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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