Can Graded Blood Flow Restriction Pressure Enhance and Prolong Postactivation Performance Enhancement Induced by Plyometric Jumps?

This study investigated whether adding blood flow restriction at graded arterial occlusion pressures (AOPs) during plyometric jumps can enhance and prolong postactivation performance enhancement.

Twenty-one resistance-trained men completed 40 maximal plyometric jumps under 4 conditions: jumps alone or combined with blood flow restriction at 50%, 60%, or 70% AOP. Countermovement jump (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ) height were assessed at baseline and at 15 seconds, 4, 8, and 12 minutes postexercise.

Significant condition × time interactions were observed for both CMJ height (P = .01, ηp2=.13) and SJ height (P < .001, ηp2=.14). The 70% AOP condition produced significant performance improvements across all time points (P < .01, g = 0.36-0.53). At 50% and 60% AOP, performance improved at 15 seconds and 4 minutes (P < .01, g = 0.19-0.40), with CMJ effects persisting to 8 minutes but disappearing by 12 minutes in both jumps. The control condition showed a transient CMJ improvement at 15 seconds (P = .046, g = 0.20) but no SJ change. Compared with other conditions, 70% AOP outperformed control at 4 and 12 minutes for CMJ and at 12 minutes for SJ, and exceeded 50% AOP at 15 seconds in both tests.

Plyometric jumps combined with 70% AOP produced a greater and more sustained postactivation performance enhancement response than jumps alone, suggesting that blood flow restriction may serve as a potential adjunct to enhance the acute effects of plyometric conditioning activities.