Effects of a 10-day remote ischemic preconditioning protocol on anaerobic and aerobic performance and post-exercise cytokine responses

Authors

• Paulina BRZEZIŃSKA, Department of Gymnastics and Dance, Faculty of Physical Culture, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdansk, PolandFollow
• Jan MIESZKOWSKI, Department of Gymnastics and Dance, Faculty of Physical Culture, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdansk, Poland
• Madalena KOCHANOWICZ, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
• Andżelika BORKOWSKA, Department Bioenergetics and Physiology of Exercise, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
• Jędrzej ANTOSIEWICZ, Department Bioenergetics and Physiology of Exercise, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
• Andrzej KOCHANOWICZ, Department of Gymnastics and Dance, Faculty of Physical Culture, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdansk, PolandFollow

Abstract

Background: Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) consists of brief cycles of limb is-chemia and reperfusion and has been proposed as an ergogenic strategy. This study examined whether a 10-day lower-limb RIPC protocol affects anaerobic and aerobic performance and post-exercise cytokine responses in physically active men. Materials and methods: Sixty healthy, physically active men were assigned to anaerobic (Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT), n = 29) or aerobic (Bruce treadmill test (BTT), n = 28) protocols and completed a 10-day lower-limb RIPC (220 mmHg) or SHAM (20 mmHg) intervention. Serum IL-6, IL-10, and IL-15 were measured at baseline and immediately post-exercise before and after the intervention. Biochemical outcomes were interpreted after Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate correction. Results: Wingate peak power increased by 7.1% after RIPC, whereas fatigue index, VO₂max, and peak heart rate showed no significant effects. After correction for multiple testing, biochemical effects were predominantly time-dependent: Wingate reduced IL-10 and IL-15 before intervention, whereas BTT reduced IL-15 before intervention and IL-15 and IL-6 after intervention. No robust RIPC-specific biochemical effect was confirmed. Conclusions: A 10-day lower-limb RIPC protocol selectively improved anaerobic peak power but did not significantly affect aerobic performance. Acute cytokine responses were driven mainly by exercise, with no consistent RIPC-specific modulation of the measured inflammatory markers.

Recommended Citation

Brzezinska P, Mieszkowski J, Kochanowicz M, Borkowska A, Antosiewicz J, Kochanowicz A. Effects of a 10-day remote ischemic preconditioning protocol on anaerobic and aerobic performance and post-exercise cytokine responses. Balt J Health Phys Act. 2026;18(2):Article5. DOI: 10.29359/BJHPA.18.2.05

Author ORCID Identifier

Paulina BRZEZIŃSKA, ORCID: 0000-0001-5274-6208

Jan MIESZKOWSKI, ORCID: 0000-0001-6753-5139

Magdalena KOCHANOWICZ, ORCID: 0000-0002-8784-3128

Andżelika BORKOWSKA, ORCID: 0000-0001-9131-3608

Jędrzej ANTOSIEWICZ, ORCID: 0000-0002-7871-6469

Andrzej KOCHANOWICZ, ORCID: 0000-0002-5104-827X

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.