Repeated-Sprint Training With Blood Flow Restriction: A Novel Approach to Improve Repeated-Sprint Ability?

Abstract

Team sport athletes commonly perform repeated short-duration sprints (#10 seconds) separated by brief recovery periods (#60 seconds). The ability to maintain performance over a series of sprints is termed repeatedsprint ability (RSA). The physiological limiters of RSA include decreased force production capacity, insufficient energy supply, and metabolite accumulation. These limiting factors can be improved through repeated-sprint training, with greater RSA gains when performing this training with systemic hypoxia (i.e., reduced fraction of inspired oxygen). Exercising with blood flow restriction (BFR) causes localized hypoxia and a substantial metabolite load, which may provide an adjunct training method to improve RSA. Training with BFR augments muscular strength and adenosine triphosphate supply, which may improve subsequent sprint performance. Improved aerobic fitness, phosphocreatine resynthesis, and metabolite removal from BFR training could also enhance between-sprint recovery to resist fatigue. Despite the possible physiological benefits of repeated-sprint BFR training to improve RSA, there are no published reviews to collate this information. Therefore, this review proposes a theoretical framework for how BFR training could combat fatiguing factors and improve RSA based on current knowledge of the physiological impact of repeated-sprint training and BFR. Finally, guidance will be provided regarding how practitioners may implement BFR training to improve RSA.

Continuous blood flow restriction during repeated‐sprint exercise increases peripheral but not systemic physiological and perceptual demands

“…Repeated‐sprint exercise (RSE) causes fatigue of peripheral (e.g., adenosine triphosphate depletion and metabolite accumulation) and neural (e.g., reduced drive to active muscle) origins (Mendez‐Villanueva et al., 2012). During RSE, team‐sport players have implemented systemic hypoxia which reduces the inspired fraction of oxygen (Beard et al., 2019), and localized hypoxia via blood flow restriction (BFR; Mckee et al., 2024). These hypoxic strategies lower oxygen availability to promote physiological adaptations thereby mitigating development of fatigue during RSE.…”

“…Localized hypoxia is induced with BFR via inflatable leg cuffs, restricting arterial blood inflow and venous return (Mckee et al., 2023). Applying BFR hinders the oxygen‐dependent resynthesis of phosphocreatine, increasing the reliance on anaerobic glycolysis during RSE (Harris et al., 1976; Mckee et al., 2023).…”

“…Localized hypoxia is induced with BFR via inflatable leg cuffs, restricting arterial blood inflow and venous return (Mckee et al., 2023). Applying BFR hinders the oxygen‐dependent resynthesis of phosphocreatine, increasing the reliance on anaerobic glycolysis during RSE (Harris et al., 1976; Mckee et al., 2023). Furthermore, oxygen consumption (V̇O 2 ) is reduced during RSE performed open‐looped (continued until volitional exhaustion) and closed‐looped (fixed volume) with BFR compared to without (i.e., non‐BFR) (Mckee et al., 2024; Willis et al., 2018).…”

“…Applying BFR hinders the oxygen‐dependent resynthesis of phosphocreatine, increasing the reliance on anaerobic glycolysis during RSE (Harris et al., 1976; Mckee et al., 2023). Furthermore, oxygen consumption (V̇O 2 ) is reduced during RSE performed open‐looped (continued until volitional exhaustion) and closed‐looped (fixed volume) with BFR compared to without (i.e., non‐BFR) (Mckee et al., 2024; Willis et al., 2018). Despite lower systemic V̇O 2 , investigations have reported greater heart rate (HR) during volume‐matched RSE with BFR compared to non‐BFR (Ienaga et al., 2022; Kojima et al., 2021).…”

Manipulating Internal and External Loads During Repeated Cycling Sprints: A Comparison of Continuous and Intermittent Blood Flow Restriction

“…The increased internal load (i.e., higher physiological stress) (35) during submaximal aerobic BFR exercise concomitantly reduces external load (i.e., lower mechanical output) compared with unrestricted exercise (33). Hence, BFR during repeated-sprint exercise (RSE) may provide an adjunct training method for athletes aiming to improve RSA (23) but need reduced external loads because of previous injury or requirements of a specific training phase. Team-sport athletes (e.g., Australian Rules football players) also require high external loads to prepare for physical demands of competition and protect against injury (10).…”