Acute Blood Flow Restriction Walking on Immune Cell Phenotype and Function

November 3, 2026 updated by: Jonathan Little, University of British Columbia

Impact of Acute Blood Flow Restriction Walking on Immune Cell Phenotype and Function in Adults withT2D

To conduct a randomized control trial to determine the impact of acute blood flow restriction treadmill walking on immune cell counts, function, and phenotype in adults living with type 2 diabetes.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Participants will be randomized to a regular treadmill walking condition or treadmill walking with blood flow restriction (BFR) condition. In both groups participants will complete 32 minutes of treadmill walking at a speed and grade that elicit 40-50% heart rate reserve. In the BFR group the cuffs will be inflated based on each participants individualized limb occlusion pressure (LOP). The cuffs will remain inflated for the entire session but will deflate for 1 minute every 10 minutes based on safety recommendations. The percentage of LOP will 60%. Blood samples will be obtained pre-exercise (PRE), during the final 2 minutes of the final occlusion cycle (OCC), and 3 minutes into the recovery period post-exercise (POST) to measure outcomes.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

20

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

  • Canada
    • British Columbia
      • Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, V1V 1V7
        • Recruiting
        • University of British Columbia Okanagan
        • 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

19 years to 64 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 19-64 years
  • Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes with current HbA1c 5.7-9.0%
  • Completing <150 minutes of moderate-vigorous physical activity per week.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Chronic musculoskeletal condition or recent (within 2 years) cardiovascular event preventing participation in exercise.
  • Unstable type 2 diabetes medication of the last 3 months
  • Absolute contraindications to BFR (i.e., peripheral vascular disease)
  • A self-reported diagnosis of low iron concentrations, anemia, or being treated for these conditions
  • A diagnosis of any red blood cell-altering condition (i.e., sickle cell anemia, poikilocytosis)
  • Currently living with any cardiovascular disease, which would impact the ability to participate in exercise safely
  • Currently prescribed any medication which would impact the ability to use a heart rate monitor to accurately track intensity

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: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Treadmill walking with blood flow restriction

Treadmill walking with blood flow restriction.
Other: Exercise with BFR

Participants will complete 32 minutes of treadmill walking at a speed and grade that elicit 40-50% heart rate reserve. The cuffs will be inflated based on each participants individualized limb occlusion pressure (LOP). The cuffs will remain inflated for the entire session but will deflate for 1 minute every 10 minutes based on safety recommendations. The percentage of LOP will 60%.
Active Comparator: Treadmill Walking

Treadmill walking.
Other: Exercise

Participants will complete 32 minutes of treadmill walking at a speed and grade that elicit 40-50% heart rate reserve.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in white blood cell count before, during, and after exercise.
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise

The white blood cell count will be measured using a hematology analyzer before, during, and after exercise.
Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in monocyte count before, during, and after exercise
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise

The monocyte count will be measured using a hematology analyzer before, during, and after exercise.
Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
Change in neutrophil count before, during, and after exercise
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise

The neutrophil count will be measured using a hematology analyzer before, during, and after exercise.
Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
Change in eosinophil count before, during, and after exercise
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise

The eosinophil count will be measured using a hematology analyzer before, during, and after exercise.
Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
Change in CD66b+ expression before, during, and after exercise
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise

The CD66b+ expression will be measured using flow cytometry before, during, and after exercise.
Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
Change in CD11b+ expression before, during, and after exercise
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise

The CD11b+ expression will be measured using flow cytometer before, during, and after exercise
Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
Change in CD63+ expression before, during, and after exercise
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise

The CD63+ expression will be measured using flow cytometry before, during, and after exercise.
Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
Change in % of classical monocytes before, during, and after exercise
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise

The % of classical monocytes will be measured using flow cytometry before, during, and after exercise.
Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
Change in % of intermediate monocytes before, during, and after exercise
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise

The % of intermediate monocytes will be measured using flow cytometry before, during, and after exercise.
Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
Change in % of non-classical monocytes before, during, and after exercise
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise

The % of non-classical monocytes will be measured using flow cytometry before, during, and after exercise.
Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
Change in TLR-4 expression on classical monocytes before, during, and after exercise
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise

The TLR-4 expression on classical monocytes will be measured using flow cytometry before, during, and after exercise.
Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
Change in TLR-4 expression on intermediate monocytes before, during, and after exercise
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise

The TLR-4 expression on intermediate monocytes will be measured using flow cytometry before, during, and after exercise.
Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
Change in TLR-4 expression on non-classical monocytes before, during, and after exercise
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise

The TLR-4 expression on non-classical monocytes will be measured using flow cytometry before, during, and after exercise.
Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
Change in plasma IL-6 before, during, and after exercise
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise

The plasma IL-6 concentration will be measured using a multiplex assay before, during, and after exercise
Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
Change in plasma IL-10 before, during, and after exercise
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise

The plasma IL-10 concentration will be measured using a multiplex assay before, during, and after exercise.
Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
Change in plasma TNF-α before, during, and after exercise
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise

The plasma TNF-α concentration will be measured using a multiplex assay before, during, and after exercise
Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
Change in 4-h LPS-induced TNF-α before and after exercise
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise

The LPS-induced TNF-α concentration will be measured from whole-blood culture supernatant using an ELISA before and after exercise.
Pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise
Change in 4-h LPS+IL10-induced TNF-α before and after exercise
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise

The LPS+IL10-induced TNF-α concentration will be measured from whole-blood culture supernatant using an ELISA before and after exercise.
Pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of British Columbia

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 (Actual)

February 11, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 23, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 3, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

November 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

November 10, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 3, 2026

Last Verified

November 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • H25-02870 acute

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.

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