Upper Limb Blood Flow Restriction in Handball Players

Efficacy of Upper Limb Blood Flow Restriction in Handball Players. Randomised Clinical Study

Introduction. Blood flow restriction therapy involves the use of an occlusion cuff placed over an extremity resulting in a partial reduction of arterial blood flow and total restriction of venous return.

Objectives. To analyse the efficacy of a physiotherapy intervention using blood flow restriction in improving upper limb strength in adult handball players.

Methods. Randomised, single-blind, clinical study. 20 athletes will be recruited and randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The intervention of the experimental group will consist of performing an exercise protocol after blood flow restriction. The intervention period will last 4 weeks, with a periodicity of 2 weekly sessions of 30 minutes each. The primary variable will be the strength of the triceps, epicondyle and epitrochlear musculature (pressure hand dynamometer). The secondary variable will be the muscle activation of this musculature (surface electromyography).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Athletes over 18 years of age.
• Federated in handball at the time of the study.
• No lower limb injuries in the three months prior to the study.
• Signing the informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Athletes who have undergone surgery in the year prior to the study.
• People who do not attend at least 80% of the treatment sessions.
• Players who are receiving physiotherapy treatment in parallel to the physical preparation of the team they are playing for.