Concentric vs Eccentric Exercise in Blood Flow Restriction Training

July 14, 2026 updated by: METEHAN YANA, Karabuk University

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Concentric and Eccentric Exercises in Blood Flow Restriction Training

This randomized controlled trial will investigate the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) training combined with concentric or eccentric exercise on upper extremity reaction speed, muscle strength, and muscle oxygenation in healthy adults aged 18-35 years. A total of 34 participants will be randomly allocated to either a BFR combined with concentric exercise group (n=17) or a BFR combined with eccentric exercise group (n=17).

Before the intervention, maximal muscle strength will be determined using a one-repetition maximum (1RM) test for the dominant elbow flexor muscles. Upper extremity reaction speed will be assessed using the Nelson Hand Reaction Test. Biceps brachii muscle strength will be measured with a digital dynamometer, and muscle oxygenation will be evaluated using a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device. All outcome measures will be obtained 72 hours before the intervention and repeated 72 hours after completion of the training program by the same investigator.

The findings of this study will contribute to understanding whether concentric or eccentric exercise combined with BFR training provides greater improvements in upper extremity reaction speed, muscle strength, and muscle oxygenation in healthy individuals.

Study Overview

Status

Enrolling by invitation

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

34

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 Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Karabük Province
      • Karabük, Karabük Province, Turkey (Türkiye), 78050
        • Karabuk university

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:

  • Being between 18 and 35 years of age
  • Physically inactive or minimally active individuals (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form. IPAQ-CF, <3000 MET-min/week)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Having a history of musculoskeletal surgery within the last 6 months
  • Individuals with a history of orthopedic surgery within the last 6 months
  • Having high systolic blood pressure (≥140 mmHg)
  • Having a current history of cardiovascular disease
  • Participants who did not volunteer to participate in the study and did not provide informed consent were excluded from the study.

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: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: CONCENTRIC GROUP
Other: concentric group
Participants assigned to this group will perform blood flow restriction (BFR) training combined with concentric elbow flexion exercises using the dominant upper extremity. Training will be performed three times per week for four weeks (12 sessions). Exercises will be performed at 20-30% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) using a pneumatic cuff applied to the proximal upper arm. The cuff pressure will be set at 50% of the individual's arterial occlusion pressure. Each session will consist of four sets (30-15-15-15 repetitions) with 30-second rest intervals between sets.
Other: eccentric group
Participants assigned to this group will perform blood flow restriction (BFR) training combined with eccentric elbow flexion exercises using the dominant upper extremity. Training will be performed three times per week for four weeks (12 sessions). Exercises will be performed at 20-30% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) using a pneumatic cuff applied to the proximal upper arm. The cuff pressure will be set at 50% of the individual's arterial occlusion pressure. Each session will consist of four sets (30-15-15-15 repetitions) with 30-second rest intervals between sets.
Active Comparator: ECCENTRIC GROUP
Other: concentric group
Participants assigned to this group will perform blood flow restriction (BFR) training combined with concentric elbow flexion exercises using the dominant upper extremity. Training will be performed three times per week for four weeks (12 sessions). Exercises will be performed at 20-30% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) using a pneumatic cuff applied to the proximal upper arm. The cuff pressure will be set at 50% of the individual's arterial occlusion pressure. Each session will consist of four sets (30-15-15-15 repetitions) with 30-second rest intervals between sets.
Other: eccentric group
Participants assigned to this group will perform blood flow restriction (BFR) training combined with eccentric elbow flexion exercises using the dominant upper extremity. Training will be performed three times per week for four weeks (12 sessions). Exercises will be performed at 20-30% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) using a pneumatic cuff applied to the proximal upper arm. The cuff pressure will be set at 50% of the individual's arterial occlusion pressure. Each session will consist of four sets (30-15-15-15 repetitions) with 30-second rest intervals between sets.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Upper Extremity Reaction Time
Time Frame: Baseline (72 hours before the intervention) and 72 hours after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Upper extremity reaction time will be assessed using the Nelson Hand Reaction Test. Participants will complete five trials, the highest and lowest values will be discarded, and the mean of the remaining three trials will be used for analysis. Reaction time will be calculated from the ruler drop distance using the standard equation.
Baseline (72 hours before the intervention) and 72 hours after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Biceps Brachii Muscle Strength
Time Frame: Baseline (72 hours before the intervention) and 72 hours after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Biceps brachii muscle strength will be measured using an ActivForce 2 digital dynamometer. Three maximal isometric contractions will be performed with 30-second rest intervals, and the highest value will be used for analysis.
Baseline (72 hours before the intervention) and 72 hours after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Hand Grip Strength
Time Frame: Baseline (72 hours before the intervention) and 72 hours after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Hand grip strength will be measured using a hydraulic hand dynamometer. Participants will perform three maximal contractions with 30-second rest intervals, and the highest value will be recorded for analysis.
Baseline (72 hours before the intervention) and 72 hours after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Pinch Strength
Time Frame: Baseline (72 hours before the intervention) and 72 hours after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Pinch strength will be assessed using a pinch dynamometer. Three maximal trials will be performed with 30-second rest intervals, and the highest value will be used for analysis.
Baseline (72 hours before the intervention) and 72 hours after completion of the 4-week intervention.
One-Repetition Maximum
Time Frame: Baseline (72 hours before the intervention) and 72 hours after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Maximum muscle strength of the elbow flexors will be estimated using the Epley equation based on the maximum number of repetitions completed with a fixed load (2 kg for females and 5 kg for males).
Baseline (72 hours before the intervention) and 72 hours after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Muscle Oxygen Saturation
Time Frame: Baseline (72 hours before the intervention) and 72 hours after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Muscle oxygen saturation (SmO₂) of the biceps brachii will be measured using a MOXY near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device. Baseline SmO₂ will be recorded before the 1RM test, continuous SmO₂ values will be monitored throughout the test, and recovery values will be recorded for 2-3 minutes after the test.
Baseline (72 hours before the intervention) and 72 hours after completion of the 4-week intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Karabuk University

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)

August 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

November 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 14, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 14, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 14, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • blood flow restriction

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

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.

Clinical Trials on Exercise

Clinical Trials on concentric group

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Sri Lanka

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe