Cuffed training may unlock faster swim times
NCT ID NCT07786129
First seen Aug 25, 2026 · Last updated Aug 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This trial tests whether adding blood flow restriction (BFR) to cluster training improves 200-m freestyle performance in competitive swimmers aged 17-20. Twenty swimmers will be split into two groups: one doing cluster training with BFR cuffs, the other without. Over 8 weeks, researchers will measure swim times, growth factors like FGF-2 and VEGF-A, and other fitness markers to see if BFR offers extra benefits.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Cluster training with blood flow restriction using pneumatic cuffs
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this approach could offer swimmers a way to enhance performance and physiological adaptations without extra training volume.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, non-randomized study, so results may not apply broadly. Blood flow restriction carries risks like discomfort or vascular issues, and benefits over standard training are unproven.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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20 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2026
- Finished
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Jun 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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17 to 20 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Competitive 200-m freestyle swimmers aged 17-20 years. At least 2 years of structured swimming training experience. Free from musculoskeletal injury for at least 6 months before enrollment. No previous regular experience with blood flow restriction training. Willing and able to complete the 8-week training intervention and all study assessments. Exclusion Criteria: History of cardiovascular, metabolic, thrombotic, or other vascular conditions that could contraindicate blood flow restriction exercise. Current use of medications known to affect vascular tone or blood coagulation. Musculoskeletal injury or medical condition preventing participation in maximal swimming or dry-land training. Attendance below 85% of the scheduled intervention sessions.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Samarra Olympic Swimming Pool
Samarra, Muhafazat Salah ad Din, 34010, Iraq
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