Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Exercise Physiology ,, Faculty of Physical Education and sport Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
2
Department of Education and Psychology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
10.48308/joeppa.2025.239614.1357
Abstract
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Recent evidence suggests that physical activity can increase levels of inflammatory markers in athletes, leading to greater fatigue and exhaustion, which may negatively affect athletic performance. One of the newer training methods that has gained attention in recent years is blood flow restriction (BFR) training. This type of exercise involves applying limited pressure to the vessels of the target area, enabling low-intensity training to yield similar effects as high-intensity workouts. However, studies examining the effects of BFR training remain limited, and no research to date has investigated the acute effects of sport-specific volleyball training with BFR. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the acute effects of sport-specific volleyball training with and without BFR on serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in adolescent female volleyball players.
Materials and Methods: Twenty adolescent female volleyball players (age: 15.2 ± 1.03 years) were randomly assigned to either the BFR volleyball training group or the non-BFR (N-BFR) volleyball training group. Participants in both groups performed a single 65-minute session of sport-specific volleyball training. The training included volleyball-specific drills such as spiking, receiving, blocking, and serving, conducted in a circuit format with an intensity of 17–18 based on the Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale. Throughout the training session, blood flow restriction cuffs were applied to the proximal part of the lower limbs in the BFR group, with the cuff pressure set to 140 mmHg. Blood sampling was performed in two phases, before and after the training session, to assess inflammatory markers.
Results: Serum levels of ESR and CRP significantly increased in both the BFR and N-BFR groups following the specialized volleyball activity (P < 0.05). However, the TNF-α serum level showed a significant increase only in the BFR group (P = 0.001). Moreover, intergroup comparisons showed no significant differences between the BFR and N-BFR groups in ESR (P = 0.469), TNF-α (P = 0.951), and CRP (P = 0.367).
Conclusion: A single session of sport-specific volleyball training, with or without blood flow restriction, leads to an increase in inflammatory markers in adolescent female volleyball players. However, to confirm these findings, further studies with larger sample sizes are required. Additionally, BFR training may be considered a novel strategy for managing inflammatory responses in athletes in future training programs.
Keywords: Blood Flow Restriction (BFR), C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
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