Effects of BFR-RST on upper limb performance in boxers: a study based on physiological indices, anthropometric measurement indices, anaerobic power, and punching performance

• DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1453153
• Publication Date: 2025-05-13T08:53:55Z
• Authors: QingLou Xu; Jiaming Fei; Ruiqiu Mao; Lei Liu; Cheng Fei

Introduction This study examined the effects of a four-week, 40% arterial occlusion pressure blood flow restriction-specific repeated sprint training (RST) regimen on upper-limb anaerobic capacity and punching performance male collegiate boxers. Methods Thirty-six healthy participants were assigned to either restriction group (Experimental Group, EG, n = 18) or conventional (Control CG, 18). Physiological measurements indices anthropometric measurement (resting heart rate, rate after Wingate test, upper arm tensed circumference, relaxed BPP), power (PP, MP, tPP, PD), (peak speed, total number 6s all-out punches, peak speed post punches) recorded at T0 (pre-intervention), T1 (mid-intervention), T2 (post-intervention). Results Two-way measures ANOVA revealed that, compared EG showed significant increases in circumference (+4.6%), BPP (+11.24% T1, +10.18% T2), PP (+10.09% +9.03% MP (+12.29% +11.69% tPP (+16.00% +8.09% punches (+8.4% (+10.7% T2). In contrast, test (−3.2% T2) PD (−6.57% −5.59% decreased (p < 0.05), with group-by-time interactions observed 0.05). Discussion demonstrates that both types RST effectively enhance strength boxers, improvements from proving superior those RST. Furthermore, while neither method significantly affected punch BFR-RST program outperformed terms fatigue resistance, leading notable enhancements power.