THE EFFECTS OF BLOOD FLOW RESTRICTION TRAINING ON BICEP MUSCLE HYPERTROPHY AMONG YOUNG MALE ADULTS A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences NU Laguna In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Science Major in Fitness and Sports Coaching Submitted by: Ushlee Enrique A. Basas Elaine Jairusse R. Capellan Yuen Magdalena William Verbruggen CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Background of the Study Resistance training is a proven approach to stimulate muscular hypertrophy, strength and endurance. Conventional resistance training (RT) usually consists of lifting progressively heavier loads to elicit muscle adaptation. But for those recently introduced to resistance training, people with injuries, or those with joint restrictions, this high-intensity approach can be impractical. This has propelled researchers and fitness professionals alike to investigate alternative methods, including Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training. BFR training is the use of specialized bands or cuffs that partially occludes venous return but still allows arterial flow. This technique immerses the muscle in a state of hypoxia, which elevates metabolic stress and improves fast-twitch muscle fiber recruitment which is an important stimulus for hypertrophy (Sieljacks et al., 2019). While BFR training can be performed at very low intensities (20-50% one-repetition maximum) and still produce muscle growth comparable to traditional high-load resistance exercise (Chang et al., 2024). This is part of the reason why BFR has become a popular strategy in rehab settings and is also used by athletes hoping to achieve hypertrophy without damaging their joints with excessive mechanical tension. Purpose of this Study — Justification and Rationale The gap in the current body of evidence to support the usage of BFR training over traditional exercise has become apparent, and in part, this research study aims to fill that gap. Many studies have been conducted on clinical populations, for example post-surgery patients or older adults, meaning they have limited applicability to active people. Additionally, the most effective training parameters for BFR (e.g., cuff pressure, exercise volume, and frequency) have not been established and therefore require investigation within rigid hypertrophy programs (HernándezMartín et al., 2024). This study aims to fill these gaps by comparing effects of 3 weeks of BFR training on hypertrophy of the bicep muscle of young male adults (18–30 years). This meta-analysis seeks to directly compare BFR to traditional training and provide evidence-based information that exercise professionals, athletes, and rehabilitation experts can use to leverage hypertrophic mechanisms in training. What is the Importance of the Study. This research will offer new contributions to the field of sports and exercise science, as: Evidence of the effectiveness of low-load blood flow restriction resistance training compared with high-load in promoting muscle mass in the young male adult population. Highlighting the safety, efficiency, and practicality of BFR training – particularly in regard to those who cannot endure heavy resistance loads. To educate fitness trainers and rehabilitation professionals on the possible use of BFR in strength and conditioning programmers. However, while more traditional hypertrophy resistance training is still considered the gold standard for muscle hypertrophy, BFR alternative training may provide at least comparable results — more work is needed to validate these assertions empirically. The prospective hypertrophic potential of BFR training will be evaluated relative to traditional training, and the feasibility of using BFR to promote accelerated bicep muscle growth with minimal mechanical tension will also be explored. Statement of the Problem This study intends to find out how blood flow restriction training can affect bicep hypertrophy. The researchers ought to find out the current preferred style of training in the community. Also, it serves as a guide to the newly interested individuals in order to be more knowledgeable in this area thus significantly reducing the possibility of underlying accidents. This study aimed to determine the effects of Blood Flow Restriction training on bicep muscle hypertrophy among young adults. This study will be conducted during S.Y. 2024-2025 at National University, Laguna. Specifically, this study sought to answer the following questions: 1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of: 1.1. Sex 1.2. Age 1.3. Physical Activity Level 2. What type of program will be applied for the bicep hypertrophy? 3. How much is the bicep circumference before and after the duration of the study without BFR? 4. How much is the bicep circumference before and after the duration of the study with BFR? 5. Is there any significant difference between the control and experimental group on bicep circumference? Hypothesis H0 - Bicep muscular hypertrophy will have no significant difference before and after using blood flow restriction (BFR) training. H1 - Bicep muscular hypertrophy will have significant difference before and after using blood flow restriction (BFR) training THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK This study is grounded in the Specific Adaptation to Impose Demand (SAID) principle as articulated by Johnson and Sandage (2019). The SAID principle suggests that the body adapts specifically to the demands placed upon it. When subjected to a particular type of stress or exercise, the physiological adaptations that occur in the body are specific to that type of stress. This principle is crucial for understanding how different training methods can lead to varying adaptations in muscle growth, strength, and endurance. With enough use, volume can now be equated to fit the program made for the participants based on their volume landmarks. With the proper usage of these variables, BFR training can now be given. The idea is that your body responds to the exercise you perform. Your body adjusts to the particular exercise you perform; for example, lifting weights increases muscular size. After then, your body will adjust to the exercise you do. Changes can include improvements in muscle growth, speed, endurance, and other areas. To put the SAID principle into much simpler terms, our study indicates that if an individual wants to increase strength and muscle size, they should lift weights. An individual's actions impacts the demands they place on their body. Figure 1. SAID principle by Johnson and Sandage (2019) There are three (3) adaptations that can happen to the participant, and they are listed inside the framework. Neurological adaptations happen when loading increases overtime, making the athlete stronger and better using motor units as their bodies become more efficient. Morphological adaptations are those changes in the physical form of an athlete's body. This can be seen through changes in the body composition by increased muscle mass or a decrease in body fat. Lastly, bioenergetic changes refer to the internal mechanisms of the body. This can be an increase in stroke volume as their bodies become more efficient in using their blood and better metabolism due to higher activity; it can also be the increase in BMR due to the increased muscle mass they have gained from their training. If BFR is used in the study for adaptation, the participants' bodies should undergo significant adaptations. According to Fryer et al. (2010), BFR can promote protein synthesis, resulting in muscular development. It can also boost muscle fiber activation, which is essential for strength and power. BFR can also increase metabolic stress, which promotes muscular growth. These characteristics may increase muscular growth and strength even with lower training loads. The outcomes are now the effect of the training variables that have been acted upon the athlete’s body. The framework gives us a good view of how adaptations happen overtime, and their possible effects on performance. In the context of this study, the participants should gain adaptations through hypertrophy training, which shall be programs for them to increase the needed variables. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK This conceptual framework illustrates the steps involved in researching the Effect of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Bicep Muscle Hypertrophy. It begins with an exercise program, namely the bicep hypertrophy workout plan, which will be implemented among the participants. There will be pre- and post-test measurements of the participants' mid upper arm circumference before and after the workout program is implemented to establish a baseline and compare the results at the end of the process. Figure 2. Conceptual Framework The conceptual framework of this study illustrates the processes depending on the group of participants when it comes to bicep muscle hypertrophy in young adults. It starts with a bicep workout program that includes the exercises one arm bicep curl, barbell bicep curl, and machine bicep curl (Kaminski et al. 2022). There will be sets and repetitions throughout the workout, but Machine Bicep Curl consists of more sets than free weights because the machine requires less stability from the body, resulting in higher muscle bias in the biceps. Because of the increased instability of the movement, free-weight workouts need stronger muscle coordination to be performed correctly (Haugen et al. 2023). A mid-upper arm circumference assessment will be performed to get an initial measurement of the bicep muscle, which will be used to compare with post-test results. After the pre-test, the participants will be divided into two groups: experimental and control. The experimental group will use BFR bands during the program, while the control group will undergo conventional training. Next, the workout program will be implemented. The purpose is to see if BFR training could stimulate muscle growth compared to standard training. After completing the training program, we will conduct a post-test to assess the changes in bicep muscle growth. CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY Research Design This study was a quantitative experimental study due to the amount of numerical data that was gathered from the bicep muscular circumference of the respondents from pre-test and post-test who used BFR training and conventional training between two groups. This study was also experimental in nature due to the processes and outcomes the respondents went through to achieve the final results that were gathered from the intervention. The study also aimed to explore the diversity of muscular hypertrophy, specifically bicep muscular hypertrophy; hence, the use of standard measurements and equipment was utilized to acquire the best results relevant in the study. The researchers aimed to determine the potential impact of BFR training on bicep muscular hypertrophy in terms of the important parameters used in the training, which were cuff pressure, duration, frequency, and lastly, muscle growth. This method was intended to determine how BFR training was effective for bicep muscular hypertrophy using the parameters specified that served as a guide. Sampling method The researchers used a purposive sampling method to identify young male participants among the 22 individuals divided into two groups: 12 for the experimental group going through BFR training and 10 for the control group doing conventional training. The study included participants depending on their weight, ranging from 60 kg to 90 kg. According to a study by Helms et al. (2023), male trained individuals hovered their bodyweight as low as 77 kilograms to as high as 85.9 kilograms. This paper gave a hypothesis of what body weight range could be used for this study. To gain more muscular mass and strength, many people engaged in resistance training (RT). It was encouraged to have energy surpluses to sustain these improvements, but if they were excessively high, they may result in unneeded fat growth. Participants were separated into two groups depending on weight: control and experimental. Using the purposive sampling method, researchers selected individuals who they believed would provide the most important data for their research objectives. The study participants were individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 with no history of coagulation disorders, including deep vein thrombosis. Exclusion criteria for this study included pregnancy, smoking, lymphoedema, cardiovascular disease, chronic degenerative diseases, a history of cancer, recent surgery in the lower limbs within the past 12 months, or medication use affecting blood flow regulation. They primarily came from NU Laguna. Respondents also had less than a year of experience in weightlifting or bodybuilding. There was a total of 22 respondents, with 10 in the control group and 12 in the experimental group. Respondents who had experience with resistance/strength exercises were thoroughly instructed about the study. Before the study began, students were given the physical activity readiness questionnaire and any other paperwork that had to be completed in order for the researchers to collect the necessary data from all participants. Studies using small sample sizes are common in BFR research due to the precision of measurements and focus on targeted interventions. For example, in trials examining BFR's effect on muscle strength and hypertrophy, sample sizes often ranged from 10 to 37 participants. This was especially true when the emphasis was on obtaining detailed physiological outcomes or when practical constraints such as time and resources limited larger cohorts. Such studies successfully showed significant hypertrophic responses with BFR, suggesting that a smaller but well-controlled participant pool could still yield meaningful and generalizable results when appropriately designed (Chen et al., 2024; MDPI). Previous reviews and systematic analyses have found that even with limited sample sizes, BFR training can deliver outcomes comparable to high-load resistance training for hypertrophy. This suggests that smaller-scale studies remain a valid approach to exploring BFR's targeted effects on specific muscle groups (MDPI, 2024; Hernández-Martín et al., 2024). CHAPTER 4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Changes in Bicep Hypertrophy Between BFR and Conventional Groups Paired-samples t-test was conducted to compare the between the pre-test of the left bicep circumference for the BFR group (M = 29.17 cm, SD = 3.20 cm) and post-test results after 6 weeks (M = 32.08 cm, SD = 3.34 cm). There was a significant difference; t (10) = -3.71, p = 0.009. Also, Paired-samples t-test was conducted to compare the between the pre-test of the left bicep circumference for the conventional group (M = 29.50 cm, SD = 7.88 cm) and post-test results after 6 weeks (M = 30.21 cm, SD = 8.35 cm). There was a significant difference; t (10) = -2.76, p = 0.022. However, the BFR trained group resulted in a higher percentage increase in muscle size. The BFR group had a higher percentage increase in midupper arm circumference than the conventional training group (10.00% vs 3.76%, respectively), with significant differences between pre-test and post-test for BFR (p = 0.009) and conventional training (p = 0.022). Table 5 shows that both BFR training and conventional resistance training resulted in significant bicep muscle hypertrophy. Table 12. Comparison of Left Bicep Circumference Changes Between BFR and Conventional Groups BFR group Conventional Group n 12 10 Left MUAC Bicep Circumference (cm) Before After % Change 29.17 ± 3.20 32.08 ± 3.34 10.00 29.50 ± 7.88 30.21 ± 8.35 3.76 p-value 0.009a 0.022a Paired-samples t-test was conducted to compare the between the pre-test of the right bicep circumference for the BFR group (M = 29.20 cm, SD = 3.51 cm) and post-test results after 6 weeks (M = 31.97 cm, SD = 3.73 cm). There was a significant difference; t (10) = -2.54, p = 0.027. Also, Paired-samples t-test was conducted to compare the between the pre-test of the right bicep circumference for the conventional group (M = 30.21 cm, SD = 8.03 cm) and post-test results after 6 weeks (M = 30.61 cm, SD = 8.23 cm). There was a significant difference; t (10) = -3.31, p = 0.009. Table 12 shows that both BFR training and conventional resistance training resulted in significant bicep muscle hypertrophy. Table 13. Comparison of Right Bicep Circumference Changes Between BFR and Conventional Groups BFR group Conventional Group n 12 10 Right MUAC Bicep Circumference (cm) Before After % Change 29.20 ± 3.51 31.97 ± 3.73 9.47 30.21 ± 8.03 30.61 ± 8.23 2.45 p-value 0.027a 0.009a Table 12 and 13 shows that both the BFR and conventional resistance training groups experienced a statistically significant increase in bicep circumference, with the BFR group showing more hypertrophy. The BFR group's right bicep circumference grew by 9.47% (p = 0.027), while the conventional group experienced just a 2.45% rise (p = 0.009). These data support the effectiveness of BFR training as a hypertrophy-enhancing approach, especially for people who struggle with heavier weights. Previous studies suggests that low-load blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise can also promote muscle growth. Ma et al. (2024) showed that BFR training results in muscle thickness comparable to high-load resistance training, supporting its use for individuals who cannot lift heavy weights. Zhang et al. (2023) found that BFR exercise induces hypertrophy in untrained males, indicating its effectiveness in increasing muscular growth through metabolic stress and muscle fiber recruitment. The BFR group's increased muscle size can be related to the accumulation of metabolites like proton and lactate, which promote muscular hypertrophy through increased muscle activation and anabolic signaling (Spranger, 2020). These mechanisms are the same to those seen during high-intensity resistance training, explaining why BFR training remains a very efficient muscle-building mechanism even with low resistance loads. These results suggest that it can be an effective alternative for biceps muscle hypertrophy, especially for those preferring lower mechanical stresses. To get optimal results and maintain security, consider elements such as BFR cuff pressure, proper addition, and identifying indifference. The effectiveness of BFR training in producing muscular hypertrophy can be related to increased metabolic stress and muscle fiber activation, which cause anabolic signaling pathways even at low resistance loads (Zhang et al. (2023) discovered that low-load BFR training considerably improves muscle thickness and hypertrophy, indicating its potential as an alternative to standard high-load resistance training. Furthermore, Spranger et al. (2020) showed that metabolic buildup during BFR training—specifically lactate and hydrogen ions—plays an important role in muscle growth by activating more muscle fibers. This process compensates for the lower mechanical stress encountered in low-load resistance training, resulting in hypertrophic adaptations similar to those reported in high-load training programs (Spranger, 2020). While BFR training has shown better hypertrophy benefits, individual variability, cuff pressure standardization, and exercise selection must all be considered to provide optimal results and participant safety. The study's findings are consistent with current literature, showing that BFR training can be an effective option for muscular growth, particularly in individuals unable to lift heavy loads due to injury or recovery restrictions. Figure #3 shows the changes within the implementation of the bicep hypertrophy program. Figure 3 Comparison of Bicep Circumference Changes Over Time Between BFR and Control Groups Difference between the control and experimental group on bicep circumference The results indicated that there was no significant difference between the left bicep pretest of the BFR group (M = 29.17 cm, SD = 3.20 cm) and pre-test of the conventional group (M = 29.50 cm, SD = 7.88 cm). There was a significant difference; t (10) = -2.62, p = 0.796. Also, the results indicated that there was no significant difference between the right bicep pretest of the BFR group (M = 29.20 cm, SD = 3.51 cm) and pre-test of the conventional group (M = 31.97 cm, SD = 8.03 cm). There was a significant difference; t (10) = -0.728, p = 0.475. For posttests, the results indicated that there was no significant difference between the left bicep post-test of the BFR group (M = 32.08 cm, SD = 3.34 cm) and pre-test of the conventional group (M = 30.21 cm, SD = 8.35 cm). There was a significant difference; t (10) = 1.028, p = 0.316. The results indicated that there was no significant difference between the right bicep post-test of the BFR group (M = 31.97 cm, SD = 3.73 cm) and pre-test of the conventional group (M = 30.61 cm, SD = 8.23 cm). There was a significant difference; t (10) = 0.688, p = 0.500. Table 14 Comparison of Bicep Circumference Changes Between BFR and Conventional Training Groups Bicep circumference (cm) Left bicep pre-test Right bicep pre-test Left bicep post-test Right bicep post-test n BFR Group Conventional Group Difference 12 10 12 10 29.17 29.20 32.08 31.97 29.50 30.21 30.61 30.95 0.33 1.01 1.47 1.02 p-value 0.796 0.475 0.316 0.500 Table 14 compares bicep circumference changes across two training methods: blood flow restriction and conventional training. The table displays the average bicep circumference measures in centimeters for both the left and right arms before and after six weeks of training. The "n" column specifies how many individuals participated in each measurement group. The pre-test stage shows that the average bicep circumference was highly similar between the BFR and conventional groups, indicating that they were well-matched. However, the p-values in these pre-test assessments were high, showing that there is no significant difference between the two groups. Post-measurement results suggest that the BFR group has higher changes in bicep circumference than the conventional group in both arms. The p-values remained high for the post-test measurements, indicating that the change that was observed was not statistically significant. While the BFR group had larger improvements in bicep muscle growth, the study was unable to establish that BFR training is superior to conventional training due to a lack of statistical significance. As a result, while the data shows the benefits of BFR training for increasing bicep muscle circumference, the findings are not convincing. Adjusted Difference of Bicep Circumference based on Volume A one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to examine the effect of group on the dependent variable while controlling for average volume (Load × Reps × Sets). The overall model was significant, F(2, 21) = 5.495, p = .012, indicating that the predictors collectively explained a significant portion of variance in the dependent variable. The main effect of group was not statistically significant, F(1, 21) = 0.241, p = .628, η² = .007, suggesting that group membership did not significantly impact the dependent variable when controlling for average volume. However, average volume was a significant covariate, F(1, 21) = 10.990, p = .003, η² = .341, indicating a strong relationship between average volume and the dependent variable. Also, a one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to examine the effect of group on the dependent variable while controlling for average volume (Load × Reps × Sets). The overall model was significant, F(2, 21) = 7.172, p = .004, indicating that the predictors collectively explained a significant portion of variance in the dependent variable. The main effect of group was not statistically significant, F(1, 21) = 0.675, p = .421, η² = .019, suggesting that group membership did not significantly impact the dependent variable when controlling for average volume. However, average volume was a significant covariate, F(1, 21) = 14.258, p = .001, η² = .397, indicating a strong relationship between average volume and the dependent variable. The adjusted means showed that the effect of hypertrophy using BFR may not have a difference between the control and experimental but had significant effects on the volume of the workout per week. These findings suggest that while group differences were not significant, average volume had a meaningful effect on the outcome for both left and right bicep hypertrophy between the groups. Table 15. Comparison of Post-Test Bicep Circumference and Training Volume Between BFR and Control Groups MUAC Volume (cm) (kgxrepsxset) Post-test Left Bicep BFR group 30.5 Effect size (η²) 0.003a 0.341 0.001a 0.397 3587 Control Group 30.5 3465 BFR group Post-test Right Bicep Control Group 30.4 3673 30.8 p-value 3447 Although additional examination of the adjusted means suggests that these differences may be primarily influenced by training volume rather than the particular training method, the moderate effect sizes suggest that BFR training contributed to hypertrophic adaptations. This is consistent with earlier research that found that although BFR is useful for increasing muscle mass, when total workload is taken into account, its benefits might be on par with those of conventional resistance training. After adjusting for workout volume, the adjusted means also show that there was little difference in the hypertrophic responses between the BFR and conventional groups. This implies that rather than the use of BFR per se, the overall training volume may be the main factor influencing muscle growth in both training conditions. Although other studies have demonstrated that BFR is a useful tactic for promoting hypertrophy at lower loads, these results suggest that its benefit might be lessened when training volume is equalized. The importance of progressive overload and total workload in resistance training programs is further supported by the substantial effect that volume has on muscle growth. Hence, optimizing volume may be advantageous for those aiming for hypertrophy whether or not they use BFR. These results add to the increasing amount of research on BFR training's efficacy, especially when compared to traditional resistance training. Dong et al. (2025) says that although BFR has been widely marketed as a low-load alternative for muscle hypertrophy, this study raises the possibility that, when volume is controlled, its advantages may not be appreciably higher than those of conventional techniques. Longer training periods, different BFR protocols, and possible individual variances in BFR training responsiveness should all be investigated in future studies (Miller et al., 2021). Furthermore, Wortman et al. (2020) says that recovery, fatigue management, and viability for various populations, such as athletes and rehabilitation patients, should all be taken into account in real-world BFR applications. According to Ma et al. (2024), BFR training can provide hypertrophic muscle growth comparable to typical higher-load resistance training, but with less resistance. Lowery et al. found that adding BFR into a structured resistance training program increased hypertrophy in a specific muscle group, specifically the elbow flexors. According to Zhang et al. (2023), lowload resistance training with BFR promotes muscle growth in the arms and legs of untrained guys, making it an effective training option for those who cannot carry big weights. These results suggest that BFR exercise can effectively induce hypertrophy, particularly in bicep muscular development in young male adults. Both groups showed muscular growth over six weeks, but statistical analysis showed no difference. However, the findings indicate that, despite identical muscle growth, a significant volume difference may occur between the two methods. It has been observed that the participants' strength has changed more than their hypertrophy. Chapter 5 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS The summary and findings drawn from the results' analysis and interpretation are presented in this chapter. Additionally, this conveys the conclusions and suggestions that were developed thereafter. Summary The primary objective of this research was to identify the effects of blood flow restriction training on bicep muscle hypertrophy using specialized cuffs specifically made for this kind of training. There are two (2) groups who participated in this study, one group for conventional training (no intervention of BFR Training) and one group for experimental training (with the intervention of BFR Training). These groups underwent certain training sessions with the same training program to assess the muscular hypertrophy on bicep circumference for both control and experimental groups. Up-to-date studies were used as guides in performing the training sessions with and without the use of the BFR bands. The major instrument that was used in gathering data were the training sessions of the control and experimental group as these were designed to seek information and evaluate how effective BFR bands are when used for training programs in terms of the significant differences between the results of the training sessions for the control group and experimental group. In order to collect data, the researchers used experimental procedures. This was carried out in order to gather sufficient and relevant data to meet the study's research objectives. The experiment's collected data would be categorized as primary data. Conclusion Blood flow restriction has been considered one of the innovations on improving muscle hypertrophy however evidence to support the claim on possible increase on bicep hypertrophy is much of a necessity for further study. Both groups experienced muscle growth over the duration of the study, yet the results suggest that despite the similar muscular growth, a possible existence in training volume between the two methods was observed. Factors such as training load and overall workload may vary between BFR and conventional training such that both training methods appear to be effective for muscle growth, allowing individuals to choose based on their preferences and goals. Recommendation The following recommendations are presented based on the findings and conclusions of the study. Recommendation for young male adults. For young male adults looking to improve their bicep muscle growth. Both approaches may result in muscle hypertrophy, and BFR training can be used if individuals wish to lift smaller weights, are still recovering from an injury, or simply want to vary their workouts. Things to consider while adopting BFR training include proper technique and cuff pressure for their safety. Regardless of the method they choose, consistency and dedication to the program are essential for muscular growth. Recommendations for future researchers. Researchers who want to expand on this study of BFR training for bicep muscle hypertrophy can look into the training volume and load of BFR training compared conventional training. Studies may focus on the repetitions, load, sets, and recovery time of an individual who applies both methods. Additional factors to consider are the pressure of the BFR that will be applied, the bands that will be utilized, and the workout selections, which may improve the data that will be collected. Furthermore, extending the activity for more than six weeks can help to analyze the long-term effects of an individual's potential muscle growth. The demographics of the participants can also influence the generalizability of the results. Finally, integrating advance measuring techniques could provide more precise assessments on the muscle hypertrophy and underlying physiological mechanisms.
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