Minimal Equipment Training Approach to Improve Warfighter Performance

NCT ID: NCT05003778

Last Updated: 2023-11-29

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 54 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2020-11-20
• Study Completion Date: 2022-06-29

Brief 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

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Traditional equipment resistance and endurance training

Participants in this group undergo 6 weeks of concurrent resistance and endurance training using traditional equipment (i.e., power racks, barbells, dumbbells, etc.)

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Traditional equipment resistance training

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will undergo 6 weeks of traditional equipment resistance training

Minimal equipment resistance and endurance training

Participants in this group undergo 6 weeks of concurrent resistance and endurance training using minimal equipment (i.e., sandbags, resistance bands, suspension trainers, weight vests, etc.)

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Minimal equipment resistance training

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will undergo 6 weeks of minimal equipment resistance training

Minimal equipment resistance and endurance training with blood flow restriction

Participants in this group undergo 6 weeks of concurrent resistance and endurance training using minimal equipment (i.e., sandbags, resistance bands, suspension trainers, weight vests, etc.) while wearing upper- and lower-body blood-flow restriction cuffs

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Minimal equipment resistance training

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will undergo 6 weeks of minimal equipment resistance training

Blood flow restriction training

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will undergo 6 weeks of blood flow restriction training

Interventions

Traditional equipment resistance training

Participants will undergo 6 weeks of traditional equipment resistance training

Intervention Type: OTHER

Minimal equipment resistance training

Participants will undergo 6 weeks of minimal equipment resistance training

Intervention Type: OTHER

Blood flow restriction training

Participants will undergo 6 weeks of blood flow restriction training

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Males and females between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive) and enrolled in an ROTC program.
• Subject has provided written and dated informed consent to participate in the study.
• Subject is in good health as determined by medical history and is cleared for exercise.
• Subject will be asked about dietary supplementation use within the past 6 months.

• If subject began taking a supplement within the past month, subject will be asked to discontinue supplement use followed by a 2-week washout prior to participation.
• In all other cases, we will request that subjects maintain supplement use.

Exclusion Criteria

• Subjects with any musculoskeletal injuries that would prevent exercising.
• Subjects with any metabolic disorder including known electrolyte abnormalities, diabetes, thyroid disease, adrenal disease or hypogonadism.
• Subjects with any inborn error of metabolism.
• Subjects with a history of hepatorenal, musculoskeletal, autoimmune, or neurologic disease.
• Subjects with a personal history of heart disease, high blood pressure (systolic >140 mm Hg & diastolic >90 mm Hg), psychiatric disorders, cancer, benign prostate hypertrophy, gastric ulcer, reflux disease, or any other medical condition deemed ineligible to participate in physical training by the ROTC athletic trainers or ROTC medical staff.
• Subjects currently taking thyroid, hyperlipidemic, hypoglycemic, anti-hypertensive, or anti-coagulant medications.
• Subjects who are pregnant or lactating.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 35 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

United States Department of Defense

FED

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of South Carolina

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Shawn M. Arent

Professor and Chair

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

University of South Carolina Sport Science Lab

Columbia, South Carolina, United States

Countries

United States

References

Cintineo HP, Chandler AJ, Mastrofini GF, Lints BS, McFadden BA, Arent SM. Effects of Minimal-Equipment Resistance Training and Blood Flow Restriction on Military-Relevant Performance Outcomes. J Strength Cond Res. 2024 Jan 1;38(1):55-65. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004596.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 38085621 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Pro00103649

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id