The Effect of Blood Flow Restriction Training in Taekwondo Athletes. The purpose of this study was to enhance the performance of high-level athletes through blood flow restriction (BFR) training. Twenty elite Taekwondo athletes from China were randomly assigned to either the Experimental Group or the Control Group. The Experimental Group underwent 8 weeks of BFR training at 50% arterial occlusion pressure (AOP), with 3 sessions per week, while the Control Group followed traditional high-intensity resistance training at 70% of one-repetition maximum (1RM). The Experimental Group showed significant improvements in body composition, including reduced body fat (P = 0.035, Cohen's d = -0.53) and increased muscle mass (P = 0.004, Cohen's d = 0.51). In contrast, the Control Group exhibited only a modest weight gain (P = 0.034). Additionally, the Experimental Group demonstrated substantial gains in thigh circumference (P < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.771) and hip circumference (P = 0.034), along with enhanced lower limb explosive power. These findings suggest that BFR training is a more effective method than traditional resistance training for improving body composition, increasing muscle strength, and boosting lower limb explosive power in high-level athletes. In conclusion, BFR may be an important approach for athletes to optimize their performance.
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