Effect of 8 Weeks of Resistance Training With Blood Flow Restriction on Muscle Strength, Clinical Parameters, Biochemical Biomarkers, and Perceived Exertion in Adults With Obesity

To analyze the effect of 8 weeks of resistance training with blood flow restriction on muscle strength, clinical parameters, biochemical biomarkers, and perceived exertion in adults with obesity.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: Obesity & Overweight
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Intervention; Other: Intervention

Detailed Description

Resistance training has been demonstrated to be an effective intervention for improving muscular strength and metabolic profile. According to the available evidence, a moderate-to-high intensity level (60-90% of one-repetition maximum [1RM]) is required to achieve optimal outcomes in healthy adults.

Blood flow restriction (BFR) training, in turn, has emerged as an innovative strategy that promotes gains comparable or similar to those achieved with moderate-to-high intensity resistance training. It has been proposed as an efficient and safe training alternative in both clinical and non-clinical settings . Current findings identify BFR as a promising, versatile, accessible, and particularly useful tool when moderate-to-high intensity resistance training must be limited or contraindicated.

Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the effects of 8 weeks of resistance training combined with blood flow restriction on muscular strength, clinical parameters, biochemical biomarkers, and perceived exertion in adults with obesity, providing evidence regarding a potentially safe and effective intervention.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Mexico
  • Jalisco
    • Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Jalisco, Mexico, 45650
      • Centro Universitario de Tlajomulco

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged 18 to 40
• Both genders
• BMI ≥ 30 kg/m^2 and < 40 kg/m^2
• Signed informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants who smoke
• Personal and family history of vascular disease or deep vein thrombosis
• Clinical diagnosis of hypothyroidism
• Clinical diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus
• Clinical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Clinical diagnosis of grade 3 obesity
• Clinical diagnosis of hypertension
• Clinical diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction or angina pectoris
• Use of nitrates and calcium channel blockers within 4 days prior to the start of the study
• Use of anticoagulants
• Use of beta-blockers or hypoglycemic agents within 7 days prior to the intervention
• Pregnant women
• Breastfeeding women
• Men consuming more than 40 g of alcohol per day or women consuming more than 20 g per day
• Postural and biomechanical disorders (knee, foot, and spine)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: BFR group; This group will train for 8 weeks	Other: Intervention; The BFR group will perform machine-based quadriceps extension exercises and dumbbell biceps curls involving both lower limbs and both upper limbs. Each exercise will consist of 4 sets of 12 repetitions. Quadriceps extensions will be performed at an intensity of 40% of one-repetition maximum (1RM), and biceps curls at 20% of 1RM. The execution cadence will be standardized to 1 second for the concentric phase and 2 seconds for the eccentric phase. Inter-set rest intervals will be 1 minute. For vascular occlusion, a Carbafix cuff (8 cm width × 68 cm length for the upper limb; 10.5 cm width × 106.0 cm length for the lower limb) will be applied directly to the skin at the most proximal portion of the arm or thigh. The cuff will be inflated to 20 mmHg above resting brachial systolic blood pressure. To ensure partial vascular occlusion, pulse and oxygen saturation will be assessed using a pulse oximeter at the end of each set. Cuff pressure will be released during the inter-set rest periods.; Other: Intervention; The control group will perform quadriceps extensions and biceps curls, completing 4 sets of 10 repetitions at an intensity of 70% of one-repetition maximum (1RM). The execution tempo will be standardized to 1 second for the concentric phase and 2 seconds for the eccentric phase, with 2-minute inter-set rest intervals. The protocol will adhere to the resistance training guidelines established by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
Active Comparator: Control group; This group will train for 8 weeks	Other: Intervention; The BFR group will perform machine-based quadriceps extension exercises and dumbbell biceps curls involving both lower limbs and both upper limbs. Each exercise will consist of 4 sets of 12 repetitions. Quadriceps extensions will be performed at an intensity of 40% of one-repetition maximum (1RM), and biceps curls at 20% of 1RM. The execution cadence will be standardized to 1 second for the concentric phase and 2 seconds for the eccentric phase. Inter-set rest intervals will be 1 minute. For vascular occlusion, a Carbafix cuff (8 cm width × 68 cm length for the upper limb; 10.5 cm width × 106.0 cm length for the lower limb) will be applied directly to the skin at the most proximal portion of the arm or thigh. The cuff will be inflated to 20 mmHg above resting brachial systolic blood pressure. To ensure partial vascular occlusion, pulse and oxygen saturation will be assessed using a pulse oximeter at the end of each set. Cuff pressure will be released during the inter-set rest periods.; Other: Intervention; The control group will perform quadriceps extensions and biceps curls, completing 4 sets of 10 repetitions at an intensity of 70% of one-repetition maximum (1RM). The execution tempo will be standardized to 1 second for the concentric phase and 2 seconds for the eccentric phase, with 2-minute inter-set rest intervals. The protocol will adhere to the resistance training guidelines established by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscle strength	Muscle strength (kg): Change from baseline to 8 weeks of intervention. Muscle strength will be assessed using dynamometry	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Dynamic muscle strength	Dynamic muscle strength (kg): Change from baseline to 8 weeks of intervention.	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Arm circumference	Arm circumference (cm): Change from baseline to 8 weeks of intervention. Measurements will be obtained using a non-elastic measuring tape in accordance with the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) protocol	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Thigh circumference	Thigh circumference (cm): Change from baseline to 8 weeks of intervention. Measurements will be obtained using a non-elastic measuring tape in accordance with the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) protocol	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Maximum oxygen uptake (VO₂max)	VO₂max (ml/min/kg): Change from Baseline at 8 weeks, measured using a submaximal exercise test based on the Åstrand-Ryhming protocol	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Systolic blood pressure (SBP)	SBP (mmHg): Changes from baseline to 8 weeks of intervention	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Diastolic blood pressure (DBP)	DBP (mmHg): Changes from baseline to 8 weeks of intervention	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Heart rate	Heart rate (bpm): Change from baseline to 8 weeks of intervention.	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Glucose	Glucose (mg/dl): Changes from baseline to 8 weeks of intervention	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Triglycerides	Triglycerides (mg/dl): Changes from baseline to 8 weeks of intervention	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Total cholesterol	Total cholesterol (mg/dl): Changes from baseline to 8 weeks of intervention	Baseline and after 8 weeks
HDL cholesterol	HDL cholesterol (mg/dl): Changes from baseline to 8 weeks of intervention	Baseline and after 8 weeks
LDL cholesterol	LDL cholesterol (mg/dl): Changes from baseline to 8 weeks of intervention	Baseline and after 8 weeks
C-reactive protein (CRP)	CRP (mg/dl): Changes from baseline to 8 weeks of intervention	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Interleukin-6 (IL-6)	IL-6 (pg/mL):Change from baseline to 8 weeks of intervention.	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α)	TNF-α (pg/mL): Change from baseline to 8 weeks of intervention	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Weight	Weight (kg): Changes in weight from baseline to 8 weeks of intervention.	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Height	Height (cm): Changes in height from baseline to 8 weeks of intervention	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Body mass index (BMI)	BMI (kg/m^2): Change from Baseline at 8 weeks, calculated by: weight (kg)/ height (m^2).	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Body fat percentage	Body fat percentage (%): Changes in body fat assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Muscle mass percentage	Muscle mass percentage (%): Changes in muscle mass measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Perceived Exertion	Perceived exertion will be assessed using the Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale (RPE)	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Exercise enjoyment	Exercise enjoyment will be assessed using the validated Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale Questionnaire (PACES)	Baseline and after 8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Centro Universitario de Tlajomulco, Universidad de Guadalajara

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): February 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 25, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 25, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 3, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 3, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 25, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Exercise; Obesity
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Behavior; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Overweight; Obesity; Motor Activity; Investigative Techniques; Methods
• Other Study ID Numbers: CUTLAJO260219

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No