Effect of Ischemic Preconditioning on Lower Extremity Motor Ability and Recovery in Basketball Players During Post-Match Recovery Period

Effect of Ischemic Preconditioning on Lower Extremity Motor Ability and Recovery in Basketball Players During Post-Match Recovery Period: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ischemic preconditioning on lower limb explosive power and post-exercise recovery in basketball players during a 6-week post-season recovery training period. Thirty-four male collegiate basketball players were randomly assigned to either an IPC group or a placebo control group. Bilateral lower limb IPC intervention (3 cycles, each consisting of 5-minute ischemia at 220 mmHg and 5-minute reperfusion, twice per week for 6 weeks) was administered before routine basketball training sessions. Lower limb explosive power, as well as physiological, biochemical, and morphological indices, were assessed before and after the intervention.

Background: Lower limb explosive power is crucial for basketball performance, and effective recovery strategies are key to maintaining training quality. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is a non-invasive, economical, and safe method that triggers endogenous protective mechanisms through brief ischemia-reperfusion cycles, showing potential in enhancing athletic performance and metabolic efficiency. However, the effects of IPC on lower limb explosive power during post-match recovery in basketball players remain understudied. Objective: To investigate the effects of a 6-week repeated remote ischemic preconditioning on lower limb explosive power, phosphagen energy system capacity, and physical recovery in male college basketball players. Design: A randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial with concealed allocation. Participants were randomly assigned to either the IPC experimental group (n=17) or the placebo control group (n=17). Both groups participated in the same regular basketball sessions. The experimental group received bilateral thigh IPC intervention (3×5 minutes, 220 mmHg) before each training session, while the control group received a placebo intervention (3×5 minutes, 20 mmHg). The intervention was administered twice a week for 6 weeks (30 minutes per session). Secondary endpoints: Urinary creatinine coefficient, 10-second maximal load test (blood lactate increment, peak power, mean power), hematological parameters (red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cell count), serum testosterone, cortisol, testosterone/cortisol ratio, body composition (body weight, body fat percentage, BMI), and training load monitoring (heart rate, RPE, urine protein).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male basketball students at Guangzhou Sport University.
• Regular participants in basketball training/practice.
• Healthy adults without cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, digestive, neurological, or metabolic diseases.
• Blood pressure within normal range.
• No history of lower extremity musculoskeletal injury within the past 6 months.
• Not currently using any performance-enhancing substances or medications affecting hormones/metabolism.
• Voluntary participation with signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of acute or chronic diseases affecting exercise performance.
• History of deep vein thrombosis or coagulation disorders.
• Presence of skin lesions or infections at the thigh cuff placement site.
• Participation in other concurrent lower extremity strength/power training programs outside the study.
• Use of dietary supplements known to affect muscle metabolism within 4 weeks prior to enrollment.
• Inability to complete the full 6-week intervention and testing protocol.