Effect of Ischemic Preconditioning on Collegiate Track and Field Athletes
Loading...
Authors
Taghon, Andrea
Issue Date
2024-04-04
Type
Language
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is when blood flow is restricted to the limbs prior to an endurance exercise activity. This is typically
done using blood pressure cuffs, and the goal of IPC is to acutely enhance subsequent exercise performance. The purpose of this study is to see how IPC affects exercise performance, in both cardiorespiratory and muscular endurance tests, in Alma College
track and field athletes. For this study, the participants will complete three visits to the lab, an initial visit the first week, a mid-point visit (three weeks in), and then a final visit (six weeks in), to complete the fitness testing measures. Also, in each, the cardiorespiratory endurance test that participants will complete throughout the study is 1.5-mile runs, while the muscular endurance test is the maximum number of push-ups they can do in a minute. Other measures completed in these lab visits will include height, weight, resting blood pressure, upper arm circumference, thigh circumference, and limb occlusion pressure. Following baseline testing in the initial week, the participants will be split into two different testing groups, A and B. Group A will complete ischemic preconditioning on the arms at 65% of their limb occlusion pressure value for the first three weeks; while Group B, the sham group, will complete
ischemic preconditioning on the legs at 15% of their limb occlusion pressure. The ischemic preconditioning will be completed for 10 minutes before practice five days a week, for both groups. After the midpoint testing, the groups will switch, with group A using the sham leg protocol and group B using the arm occlusion protocol, and a final test of fitness tests will be conducted after another three weeks. Once all of the data is collected, the changes in cardiorespiratory and muscular endurance during the arm occlusion weeks will be compared to changes during the sham leg occlusion weeks and will be analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. These results will allow us to see if performance improves with the use of IPC prior to exercise activity and if different types of exercise are differentially affected by IPC.