Immediate Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Female Amateur Football Players: A Pilot Trial
We aimed to investigate the acute effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on muscle strength, thigh circumference, and knee joint reposition sense in female amateur football players, as well as to determine whether this procedure is safe. Met...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/24/13131 |
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| author | Irene Afán-Argüín Carlos Fernández-Morales Luis Espejo-Antúnez Manuel Albornoz-Cabello Felipe León-Morillas María de los Ángeles Cardero-Durán |
| author_facet | Irene Afán-Argüín Carlos Fernández-Morales Luis Espejo-Antúnez Manuel Albornoz-Cabello Felipe León-Morillas María de los Ángeles Cardero-Durán |
| author_sort | Irene Afán-Argüín |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We aimed to investigate the acute effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on muscle strength, thigh circumference, and knee joint reposition sense in female amateur football players, as well as to determine whether this procedure is safe. Methods: This was a pilot trial. Twenty female amateur football players were randomized into two groups: group 1 (<i>n</i> = 10) received a single NMES session; group 2 (<i>n</i> = 10) received NMES + BFR. The measured variables included maximal voluntary eccentric contraction (MVEC) and maximal voluntary concentric contraction (MVCC), thigh circumference, and knee joint reposition sense test. The type of electrical current used was TENS (symmetrical biphasic rectangular pulse, 350 μs, and 50 Hz), combined simultaneously with active knee extension (75 repetitions in 4 sets, 20% MVCC, 30 s rest between sets), for both groups. Group 2 had BFR added (80% of arterial occlusion pressure). Results: Statistically significant differences (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) were obtained for thigh circumference in both groups. The comparison between groups did not show statistically significant differences (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) in MVEC, MVCC, thigh circumference, or the knee joint reposition sense test. Conclusions: Both the isolated NMES intervention and its combination with BFR induced immediate changes in thigh circumference without impairing the muscle strength or proprioceptive ability of the football players. However, these results should be interpreted with caution, and future studies including a control group and isolated BFR application are needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:01:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3e89cde974e44e0d8d074bb41b7e3684 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:01:26Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-3e89cde974e44e0d8d074bb41b7e36842023-12-22T13:51:34ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-12-0113241313110.3390/app132413131Immediate Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Female Amateur Football Players: A Pilot TrialIrene Afán-Argüín0Carlos Fernández-Morales1Luis Espejo-Antúnez2Manuel Albornoz-Cabello3Felipe León-Morillas4María de los Ángeles Cardero-Durán5Department of Medical-Surgical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Extremadura, Av/Elvas, s/n, 06006 Badajoz, SpainDepartment of Medical-Surgical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Extremadura, Av/Elvas, s/n, 06006 Badajoz, SpainDepartment of Medical-Surgical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Extremadura, Av/Elvas, s/n, 06006 Badajoz, SpainDepartment of Physiotherapy, University of Seville, C/Avicena, s/n, 41009 Seville, SpainDepartment of Physiotherapy, Catholic University of Murcia UCAM, Av/de los Jerónimos, s/n, 30107 Murcia, SpainDepartment of Medical-Surgical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Extremadura, Av/Elvas, s/n, 06006 Badajoz, SpainWe aimed to investigate the acute effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on muscle strength, thigh circumference, and knee joint reposition sense in female amateur football players, as well as to determine whether this procedure is safe. Methods: This was a pilot trial. Twenty female amateur football players were randomized into two groups: group 1 (<i>n</i> = 10) received a single NMES session; group 2 (<i>n</i> = 10) received NMES + BFR. The measured variables included maximal voluntary eccentric contraction (MVEC) and maximal voluntary concentric contraction (MVCC), thigh circumference, and knee joint reposition sense test. The type of electrical current used was TENS (symmetrical biphasic rectangular pulse, 350 μs, and 50 Hz), combined simultaneously with active knee extension (75 repetitions in 4 sets, 20% MVCC, 30 s rest between sets), for both groups. Group 2 had BFR added (80% of arterial occlusion pressure). Results: Statistically significant differences (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) were obtained for thigh circumference in both groups. The comparison between groups did not show statistically significant differences (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) in MVEC, MVCC, thigh circumference, or the knee joint reposition sense test. Conclusions: Both the isolated NMES intervention and its combination with BFR induced immediate changes in thigh circumference without impairing the muscle strength or proprioceptive ability of the football players. However, these results should be interpreted with caution, and future studies including a control group and isolated BFR application are needed.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/24/13131blood flow restrictionblood flow restriction therapyneuromuscular electrical stimulationfootball |
| spellingShingle | Irene Afán-Argüín Carlos Fernández-Morales Luis Espejo-Antúnez Manuel Albornoz-Cabello Felipe León-Morillas María de los Ángeles Cardero-Durán Immediate Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Female Amateur Football Players: A Pilot Trial Applied Sciences blood flow restriction blood flow restriction therapy neuromuscular electrical stimulation football |
| title | Immediate Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Female Amateur Football Players: A Pilot Trial |
| title_full | Immediate Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Female Amateur Football Players: A Pilot Trial |
| title_fullStr | Immediate Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Female Amateur Football Players: A Pilot Trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Immediate Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Female Amateur Football Players: A Pilot Trial |
| title_short | Immediate Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Female Amateur Football Players: A Pilot Trial |
| title_sort | immediate effects of blood flow restriction combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation in female amateur football players a pilot trial |
| topic | blood flow restriction blood flow restriction therapy neuromuscular electrical stimulation football |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/24/13131 |
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