The Impact of Ischemic Preconditioning on Exercise Performance and Physiological Function

Ischemic Preconditioning Enhances Autonomic Nervous System Modulation During Frequency Speed of Kick Test in Taekwondo Athletes: A Randomized Crossover Study

Ischemic Preconditioning has been confirmed to prevent long-term ischemic damage to tissues, among which the improvement of autonomic nerve system function may be one of its mechanisms of action. In recent years, IPC has gradually been applied to enhance athletic performance and accelerate postexercise recovery; however, there has been limited research on the effects of IPC on ANS function and competitive condition before and after exercise. This study investigated the effects of IPC on ANS function before and after sport-specific testing in taekwondo athletes. The objectives of our study are (1) to investigate the impact of IPC on two indicators of autonomic nervous function-HRV and HRR-and (2) to reveal the coordinating effect of IPC on the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems during the warm-up phase and after specific testing in taekwondo athletes. The investigators hypothesize that IPC enhances sympathetic drive during the warm-up phase and rapidly activates the parasympathetic nervous system postexercise, which is accompanied by improvements in the athletes' competitive condition.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Taekwondo athletes with a national ranking of level two or higher, including those placed in the top three at the Provincial Professional Taekwondo Championship (combat) and the top eight at the National Professional Taekwondo Championship (combat);
• adult males aged 18 years or older;
• regular participation in specialized Taekwondo training for the past three months.
• All the subjects were from the same team.

Exclusion Criteria:

• consumption of alcohol or caffeine within 24 hours prior to the experiment;
• engagement in strenuous physical activity within 24 hours before the experiment;
• presence of acute or chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, anxiety disorders, and metabolic diseases;
• use of creatine supplements