Comparing Local and Remote Ischemic Preconditioning for Improving Repeated Sprint Ability in Male Basketball Players

This study examined whether ischemic preconditioning (IPC) improves repeated sprint ability (RSA) in basketball players and compared the effects of local IPC (LIPC) and remote IPC (RIPC).

Eighteen male college basketball players completed 3 baseline visits and 3 intervention sessions (local sham preconditioning, LIPC, and RIPC) in a randomized Latin-square design. Participants were blinded to both the study hypothesis and nature of the preconditioning conditions. Each session included a 15-minute warm-up, followed by 5-minute rest and a RSA test (20 × 15-m sprints with 15-s active recovery). IPC was applied 30 minutes before testing. The reoxygenation rate of the vastus lateralis muscle was monitored using near-infrared spectroscopy and perceived fatigue via a visual analog fatigue scale.

LIPC significantly improved the fastest sprint (RSAbest), mean sprint speed (RSAmean), reoxygenation rate, and visual analog fatigue scale compared with baseline and local sham preconditioning (P < .05). RIPC increased RSAmean versus baseline (P < .05) but did not affect RSAbest, reoxygenation rate, or visual analog fatigue scale. While no significant differences were observed between LIPC and RIPC (P > .05), effect-size analysis indicated greater benefits with LIPC.

LIPC provides stronger short-term benefits for RSA than RIPC in male basketball players, likely due to more favorable muscle reoxygenation responses.