NCT05003778

Minimal Equipment Training Approach to Improve Warfighter Performance

The Effects of a Minimal Equipment Training Approach Compared to Concurrent Training to Improve Warfighter Health and Performance

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 54 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of South Carolina · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 35 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this project is to compare a minimal equipment training program with and without blood flow restriction (BFR) training to periodized concurrent resistance and endurance training. The outcomes of interest are Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) performance along with laboratory measures of performance, which include body composition, power, strength, and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max). Additionally, based on the role of mechanical tension in connective tissue adaptation and the importance for chronic musculoskeletal health, tendon architecture will be assessed as well. Lastly, specific blood-based biomarkers will be analyzed in conjunction with questionnaires to determine the systemic physiological and psychological responses to training. Participants will be randomized into one of three training groups and will follow their respective program for 6 weeks. The three groups are traditional concurrent resistance and endurance training, minimal equipment training, and minimal equipment training with blood flow restriction (BFR).

Detailed description

The efficacy of minimal equipment training programs with an emphasis on resistance training has seldom been assessed and compared to traditional strength training. Common training strategies include traditional high-to-moderate load resistance training and low-to-moderate load field training using minimal equipment. The benefit of traditional CT is likely due to the higher loads relative to 1-repetition maximum (1RM) utilized and overall amount of mechanical stress incurred. It is difficult to mimic this loading with minimal equipment training, which is often performed at low loads relative to 1RM. However, one strategy to improve the effectiveness of minimal equipment training may be the addition of blood flow restriction (BFR) training. Due to the relatively low loads (20-70% 1RM) of minimal equipment training, BFR training not only provides athletes with a novel training modality to elicit hypertrophic and strength adaptation but also to augment recovery as a supplemental low-damage, high-volume training method. The research design will allow for the direct comparison of minimal equipment training with and without additional BFR training to periodized CT with regard to changes in outcomes, in particular, ACFT performance.

Conditions

• Healthy
• Military Operations

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Traditional equipment resistance training	Participants will undergo 6 weeks of traditional equipment resistance training
OTHER	Minimal equipment resistance training	Participants will undergo 6 weeks of minimal equipment resistance training
OTHER	Blood flow restriction training	Participants will undergo 6 weeks of blood flow restriction training

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-11-20
• Primary completion: 2022-03-04
• Completion: 2022-06-29
• First posted: 2021-08-12
• Last updated: 2023-11-29

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States