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Recruiting NCT07705698

Nordic vs Blood Flow Restriction Nordic Exercise in Elite Female Pole Vaulters

No phase Interventional Muscle Strength Athletic Performance Hamstring Adaptation Sports Injury Prevention

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: Nordic Hamstring Exercise, Blood Flow Restriction-Assisted Nordic Hamstring Exercise.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Muscle Strength, Athletic Performance, Hamstring Adaptation, Sports Injury Prevention. Basic parameters: 12 years — 18 years · Female.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
Turkey (Türkiye)
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →

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Official title

Effects of Nordic Hamstring Exercise and Blood Flow Restriction-Assisted Nordic Hamstring Exercise on Hamstring Strength, Muscle Morphology and Functional Performance in Elite Adolescent Female Pole Vaulters: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Overview

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the effects of Nordic Hamstring Exercise (NHE) and Blood Flow Restriction-assisted Nordic Hamstring Exercise (BFR-NHE) on hamstring muscle strength, muscle morphology, and functional performance in elite adolescent female pole vaulters. Thirty-six athletes aged 12-18 years will be randomly assigned to a Nordic Hamstring Exercise group, a Blood Flow Restriction-assisted Nordic Hamstring Exercise group, or a control group. Intervention groups will participate in supervised exercise training three times per week for eight weeks, while the control group will continue routine sports training. Outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention period.

Detailed description

Hamstring muscles play a crucial role in sprinting, acceleration, deceleration, and explosive athletic performance. Nordic Hamstring Exercise is widely recommended for increasing eccentric hamstring strength and reducing injury risk. However, evidence regarding the additional effects of blood flow restriction during Nordic Hamstring Exercise is limited, particularly in elite adolescent female athletes.

This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate whether adding blood flow restriction to Nordic Hamstring Exercise enhances adaptations in hamstring muscle strength, muscle morphology, and functional performance compared with conventional Nordic Hamstring Exercise and routine training alone.

Thirty-six elite adolescent female pole vaulters aged 12-18 years will be recruited from the Turkish Olympic Preparation Center. Participants will be allocated using block randomization into three groups:

Nordic Hamstring Exercise Group Blood Flow Restriction Nordic Hamstring Exercise Group Control Group Intervention groups will perform supervised exercise sessions three times weekly for eight weeks. The control group will continue regular training activities without additional hamstring-specific intervention.

Assessments will include hamstring muscle strength measured with a MicroFET2 handheld dynamometer, muscle morphology assessed using ultrasonography, and functional performance evaluated using a 30-meter sprint test.

Interventions

  • Behavioral Nordic Hamstring Exercise
    Participants will perform a supervised Nordic Hamstring Exercise program three times per week for 8 weeks in addition to their routine pole vault training. The exercise program will be progressively increased according to participant tolerance and training progression.
  • Behavioral Blood Flow Restriction-Assisted Nordic Hamstring Exercise
    articipants will perform a supervised Nordic Hamstring Exercise program combined with individualized blood flow restriction training three times per week for 8 weeks in addition to their routine pole vault training. Blood flow restriction will be applied using pneumatic cuffs at a predetermined percentage of arterial occlusion pressure.

Primary outcome measures

  • Hamstring Muscle Strength [Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks]
  • Hamstring Muscle Thickness [Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks]
  • Hamstring Cross-Sectional Area [Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
  • 30-Meter Sprint Performance [Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • Female athletes aged between 12 and 18 years.
  • Elite pole vault athletes actively participating in organized training and competition.
  • Minimum of 1 year of regular pole vault training experience.
  • Participation in regular training at least 3 times per week.
  • Ability to participate in an 8-week exercise program.
  • Written informed assent from the athlete and written informed consent from a parent or legal guardian.

Exclusion criteria

  • Any lower extremity musculoskeletal injury within the previous 6 months.
  • Previous hamstring muscle surgery.
  • Current pain or injury limiting sports participation.
  • Neurological disorders affecting movement or balance.
  • Cardiovascular conditions contraindicating exercise training or blood flow restriction.
  • Any contraindication to blood flow restriction training.
  • Participation in another structured hamstring strengthening program during the study period.
  • Inability or unwillingness to comply with study procedures.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: Yes

Study design

Allocation
Randomized
Model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Open label
Primary purpose
Other

Study locations

Turkey (Türkiye) · 1 center
  • Adana Olympic Preparation Center — Adana

Publications

  • Ripley NJ, Cuthbert M, Comfort P, McMahon JJ. Effect of additional Nordic hamstring exercise or sprint training on the modifiable risk factors of hamstring strain injuries and performance. PLoS One. 2023 Mar 2;18(3):e0281966. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281966. eCollection 2023. PMID 36862645
  • Vianna KB, Rodrigues LG, Oliveira NT, Ribeiro-Alvares JB, Baroni BM. A Preseason Training Program With the Nordic Hamstring Exercise Increases Eccentric Knee Flexor Strength and Fascicle Length in Professional Female Soccer Players. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2021 Apr 1;16(2):459-467. doi: 10.26603/001c.19452. PMID 33842041

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07705698 · 25.05.2026-05/82

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗