Recruiting

LL-BFR & HLT

Sponsor:

Loma Linda University

Code:

NCT07130812

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 13 - 20

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

blood flow restriction

Heavy load resistance training

Study Details

Brief summary:

The purpose of this graduate student research study is to compare the effects of low-load blood flow restriction training (LL-BFR) and heavy-load training (HLT) in high-volume rowers with mild low back pain or recurrent low back pain (LBP), aiming to determine whether LL-BFR offers a safer yet equally effective alternative to HLT for enhancing performance and reducing risk of re-injury.

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Study ID

NCT07130812

Start date

Sep 29, 2025

Status verified date

May, 2026

Completion date

Dec, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 13 - 20

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 13-20 years old
  • Currently active rower (training ≥3 days/week or 12 hours/week)
  • Mild LBP with a low reactivity (<3/10) or recurring LBP within the past 18 months that has affected attendance to team practices/races.
  • Able to complete a 2,000-meter rowing erg test

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Have severe or acute back pain that limits basic movement or requires medical treatment
  • History of spinal surgery or structural spine conditions (scoliosis requiring bracing/surgery)
  • Have a contraindication to BFR training, identified via BFR safety screening form:
  • Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)
  • History of vascular surgery in arms or legs
  • Skin grafts on arms or legs
  • Arteriovenous fistula in limbs
  • Cognitive or physical impairment that limits participation
  • Hypertension or high blood pressure (uncontrolled or undiagnosed)
  • Bleeding disorders (e.g., hemophilia)
  • Blood clotting disorders (e.g., lupus, factor-V Leiden)
  • Past history of DVT or pulmonary embolism (PE)
  • Surgery in the past 12 weeks
  • Recent limb immobilization (e.g., cast, boot) in the last 4 weeks
  • History of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)
  • History of cancer
  • Diagnosed heart disease
  • History of rhabdomyolysis
  • Diagnosed diabetes
  • Sickle cell disease
  • History of compartment syndrome
  • History of nerve damage or injury
  • Any prior complications or adverse reactions to BFR training
  • Any other medical conditions that should be cleared by a physician before starting BFR
  • Pregnancy(Self-reported)

Study Design

Enrollment

120 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Other

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

active comparator: Blood Flow Restriction Group

Using blood flow restriction, participants partake in aerobic (rowing) and anaerobic (squats/deadlifts) exercises.

active comparator: Non Blood Flow Restriction Group

Participants partake in aerobic and anaerobic exercises without blood flow restrictions. The participants will use heavier loads in the anaerobic exercises.

Interventions

blood flow restriction

The SAGA blood flow restriction tourniquet system will be used for each training sessions for the rowers within the light load restriction group. The 4 inch-wide tourniquet will be applied to both upper thighs during the strength and endurance exercises. Tourniquet setting will be determined as the pressure needed to achieve 40-80% arterial occlusion to the extremity (as measured by the SAGA BFR unit). The SAGA units provides a consistent amount of pressure to the extremity throughout the ROM of the exercise. The settings will be determined at baseline and then recalibrated weekly.

Heavy load resistance training

For the resistance prescription, rowers will do strengthening exercises at 70-80% 1 RM. Exercises will be performed in series following 6 sets by 5 reps, with 120 seconds of rest between sets for each exercise.

Primary outcome measure

  • Hamstring and quadricep muscular fatigue assessment via Noraxon Electromyography [ Time Frame: change between baseline and 10 weeks ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Everett Lohman, DSc

(909) 558-1000elohman@llu.edu

Locations

Loma Linda University

Recruiting

Loma Linda, California, United States, 92350

Contacts

Everett Lohman, Dsc

909-558-1000elohman@llu.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Loma Linda University

Last update posted

May 18, 2026

Last verified

May, 2026

Keywords

  • blood flow restriction

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Loma Linda University on 2026-05-18.