Effects of Sprint Interval Training With Blood Flow Restriction on Short-Term High Intensity Cycling Performance

Dall'Agnol, C, Orcy, RB, Formalioni, A, Siqueira, GdM, and Del Vecchio, FB. Effects of sprint interval training with blood flow restriction on short-term high intensity cycling performance. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2026-Sprint interval training (SIT) elicits rapid metabolic and performance adaptations, but whether adding blood flow restriction (BFR) during recovery intervals enhances short-term cycling performance is unclear. This study compared physiological responses and performance after 2 weeks of SIT with BFR applied during recovery (GBFR) versus SIT alone (GCON) in recreationally trained cyclists. Sixteen male subjects were randomized (n = 8 per group); 12 completed and were included in the final analyses (GCON n = 7; GBFR n = 5). Both groups performed 6 SIT sessions consisting of 4-6 30-second Wingate bouts separated by 4 minutes of passive recovery. In GBFR, cuffs were inflated bilaterally at the proximal thighs during recovery only (0 mm Hg during sprints). Pre- and post-testing included a 30-second Wingate test, graded exercise test peak power output, and time to exhaustion at peak power output (TTE). Change-score comparisons (Post minus Pre) favored GBFR for Wingate maximal anaerobic power (Δdifference = 48.1 W; Hedges g = 0.88) and mean anaerobic power (Δdifference = 28.6 W; g = 0.95), although between-group differences in change were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Peak power output and TTE showed no clear between-group differences in change. During training, GBFR exhibited higher postexercise blood lactate in the final session and slower heart-rate recovery, indicating greater cardiometabolic strain. Applying BFR during recovery intervals may be considered as an experimental strategy to increase training strain during short-term SIT, but larger trials are needed to determine whether it provides a consistent additional performance benefit over SIT alone.