The effect of weight training with blood flow restriction on muscle strength development in MMA

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to elucidate the effect of weight training with blood flow restriction (BFR) on explosive power and isokinetic strength in combat athletes. Materials and methods: The sample included 12 male MMA fighters divided into a control (19.50±0.50 years) and an experimental (18.00±1.00 years) group. Participants trained twice weekly for 8 weeks, with BFR in the experimental group. Explosive power was assessed using following tests by Optogait: countermovement push-up, kneeling countermovement push-up and kneeling squat push-up for upper limbs and countermovement jump, countermovement jump with free arms and squat jump for lower limbs. Isokinetic strength was measured by Cybex HUMAC NORM, focusing on knee, hip, shoulder, and elbow flexors and extensors in concentric, eccentric, and isometric contraction. Results: The intervention with BFR resulted in a significant improvement in upper-limb explosive power in the countermovement push-up (p = 0.046). In the case of isokinetic strength, no significant bilateral improvements were observed in the extensors and flexors of the selected joints during concentric, eccentric, and isometric contractions (p > 0.050), except for the bilateral improvement in isometric strength of the hip joint extensors (p = 0.028). Conclusions: Under the conditions of this pilot study, BFR training did not lead to consistent statistically significant improvements in explosive power or isokinetic strength in MMA athletes.

Recommended Citation

Kozak T, Kokinda M, Ruzbarsky P. The effect of weight training with blood flow restriction on muscle strength development in MMA. Balt J Health Phys Act. 2026;18(2):Article10. DOI: 10.29359/BJHPA.18.2.10