Blood Flow Restriction Therapy Combined With Neuromuscular Electrostimulation in Amateur Female Soccer Players

Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Therapy Combined With Neuromuscular Electrostimulation in Amateur Female Soccer Players: A Pilot Study

The objective is to know the effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) and its combination with Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Therapy in healthy amateur female soccer players.

The objective is to know the effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) and its combination with Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Therapy in healthy amateur female soccer players.

For this purpose, a randomized clinical trial will be performed: 20 amateur female soccer players were distributed in two groups (control group n=10; experimental group n=10). In the control group, NMES (symmetrical biphasic rectangular pulse, 350 μs and 80Hz) combined simultaneously with active exercise in knee extension (75 repetitions in 4 sets, 20% 1RM, 30 seconds rest between sets) was applied. The experimental group performed the same intervention combined with blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy (80% of arterial occlusion pressure). The variables measured were muscle strength, muscle volume and static proprioception.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Be federated in a sports club playing 11-a-side soccer for at least the last two seasons.
• Be between 16 and 28 years of age.
• Be physically active players at the time of the study with a regular practice of at least 5 hours per week during the last 2 months,
• Have been playing soccer for at least 5 hours per week during the last 2 months.
• Have been playing soccer for at least 2 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those who presented at the time of the study any lesion classified according to the Munich consensus and diagnosed by a doctor.
• Those with systemic lupus erythematosus.
• Hemophilia.
• Unregulated hypertension.
• History of pulmonary thromboembolism or stroke.
• Impaired blood coagulation.
• Contraceptive intake.
• Spinal radicular lesions.
• Previous surgeries related to the circulatory system.