Effect of blood flow restriction training on the explosive power of lower limbs in taekwondo athletes during kicking

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Objective: This paper aims to explore the effectiveness of blood flow restriction training (BFRT) on the lower extremity explosive power of Taekwondo athletes when they kick. Methods: Twenty Taekwondo athletes were randomly divided into BFRT and resistance training (RT) groups. The two groups underwent BFRT and RT for eight weeks, respectively. Indicators such as thigh and calf circumferences and countermovement jump (CMJ) performance were tested and compared. Results: In the pre-test, p > 0.05 was found between the two groups. In the post-test, the left/right thigh circumferences of the BFRT group were 54.56 ± 3.21 cm and 54.37 ± 3.37 cm, respectively, and p < 0.05 compared with the pre-test results and the RT group; however, no remarkable difference were observed between the RT group and pre-test results. The CMJ and static squat jump (SJ) scores in the BFRT group were 42.33 ± 7.84 m and 39.36 ± 7.52 m, respectively, and p < 0.05 compared with the pre-test and the RT group; however, there was no remarkable difference between the RT group and the pre-test results. In the BFRT group, the performance of 10 s in-situ double chop kick was 27.64 ± 1.51 times, and the performance of 10 s high turning kick was 19.87 ± 1.65 times (p < 0.05 compared with the pre-test results and the RT group); p < 0.05 when comparing the post-test results with the pre-test results in the RT group, but the increasing amplitude was lower than that in the BFRT group. The performance of the 10 s in-situ left/right middle turning kick was 16.12 ± 1.37 times and 18.09 ± 1.98 times in the BFRT group, and p < 0.05 compared with the pre-test results and the RT group; however, no remarkable difference were found between the RT group and the pre-test results. Conclusion: BFRT can effectively improve the lower extremity explosive power of taekwondo athletes during kicking, and the effect is superior to traditional RT.