PERFORMANCE BEHAVIOR AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH CLINICAL AND PERCEPTIVE RESPONSES AFTER ACTIVE RECOVERY ASSOCIATED WITH BLOOD FLOW RESTRICTION IN AMATEUR RUNNERS: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL WITH STRATIFIED SAMPLE

• Grant number: 25/01864-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Franciele Marques Vanderlei
• Grantee: Juliana Nogueira Bella
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Running has become increasingly common among recreational athletes, offering health benefits, but it also imposes several physiological stresses on the body, affecting runners' performance. Therefore, it is important to adopt good recovery strategies in order to reduce the deleterious effects. Among them, active recovery (AR) and blood flow restriction (BFR) have shown potential to accelerate muscle regeneration and reduce pain. AR helps restore physiological function and promotes resistance adaptations, while BFR induces hypoalgesia and improves muscle responses. However, there are still gaps regarding the effectiveness of the combination of these techniques, especially in the relationship between clinical and perceptual responses and performance in amateur runners. Objectives: To analyze and compare the effects of the combination of AR with BFR on the performance (maximal aerobic capacity, muscle strength and power) of amateur runners, correlating them with clinical (muscle pain and pain threshold) and perceptual (effort, recovery and discomfort) outcomes. Methods: a randomized clinical trial with a stratified sample will be conducted, based on the three-minute maximum test (3MWT), with 34 male participants aged 18 to 30 years and running pace of less than 5:30 minutes. Participants will be allocated to three groups: RA-RFS, RA and control, and all will undergo POT measurement and baseline assessments of the outcomes: pain using the numerical rating scale (EAN), perception of recovery and discomfort using the Likert scale and effort using the Borg scale (CR-10), pain threshold using a pressure algometer, muscle power testing using the Squat Jump test, strength in the triceps surae using a digital dynamometer and, finally, maximum aerobic capacity (MAC) using the 3MWT; followed by the muscle stress protocol and intervention according to the allocated group, ending with assessments immediately, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after exercise. Descriptive statistical methods and analysis of variance for the repeated measures model will be used. The significance level adopted will be p<0.05. (AU)