The acute effects of blood flow restriction training on perceived exertion and sprint performance in futsal athletes / Nur Syafiqah Azwarul Nizam and Nurul Ain Abu Kasim

Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training offers a low-load alternative to high-intensity exercises, potentially enhancing athletic performance while minimizing overuse injuries [1,2]. Despite its growing popularity, its impact on speed and rated perceived exertion (RPE) in high-intensity sports like futsal remains underexplored [3]. This study investigates the acute effects of BFR on RPE and sprint performance, addressing gaps in understanding its efficacy for intermittent sports [4]. Twenty healthy male futsal athletes participated, free of injuries or chronic diseases. Two trials were conducted: one with BFR applied during Yo-Yo IR1 training and the other as a control without BFR. After training, athletes performed repeated sprint tests. Speed was measured using Smartspeed timing gates, and RPE was assessed with the Borg scale [5]. Results were statistically analyzed.