Author Identifier (ORCID)
James R. Mckee: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5365-4927
Abstract
This study examined whether adding blood flow restriction (BFR) to small-sided games (SSG) augments cardiorespiratory/anaerobic adaptations and lower-limb muscular performance in well-trained male collegiate basketball players. Twenty-four atheletes (age: 21.0 ± 1.6 years) were randomized to either an experimental (SSG+BFR; 100–130% of leg systolic pressure) or a control group (SSG; without BFR) and completed eight 3 vs. 3 player-SSG sessions over four weeks (4 sets of 3–4.5-min bouts; 3-min rest intervals). Peak aerobic power, Peak oxygen uptake [VO2peak], Wingate 30-s peak/mean power, lower-limb performance (back-squat 1RM, countermovement-jump [CMJ] height/power, T-test, 30-m sprint, repeated-sprint ability [RSA best/mean and decrement score]) were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Linear mixed-effects models were used to test group, time, and group × time effects. The SSG+BFR group had greater improvements in Peak aerobic power than SSG (+9.5% vs. +4.5%; p = 0.035). The SSG+BFR group also significantly improved Wingate mean power, countermovement jump height, and repeated sprint ability best time (+4.6%, +6.8%, and −1.1%, respectively), while the SSG group showed no significant changes (p = 0.573). Both groups showed comparable improvements in VO2peak (+6.4% and +4.4% in SSG+BFR and SSG, respectively). Back-squat 1RM increased over time without between-group differences. T-test performance favored SSG+BFR (group effect). These findings demonstrate that adding BFR to four weeks of 3 vs. 3 player-basketball SSG provides additional performance benefits by further enhancing cardiorespiratory and anaerobic outcomes, jump height and repeated sprint ability compared to SSG alone.
Keywords
KAATSU training, metabolic adaptation, physical fitness, team sports, vascular occlusion
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
Volume
44
Issue
3
Publication Title
Journal of Sports Sciences
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
School
Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute / School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
88100
Funders
Shanghai Key Lab of Human Performance (11DZ2261100) / National Health and Medical Research Council
Grant Number
NHRMC Number : GNT1196462
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
First Page
372
Last Page
386
Comments
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCES on 27th October 2025, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/02640414.2025.2580845
Liu, H., Yin, M., Xu, K., Deng, S., Mckee, J. R., Scott, B. R., Girard, O., & Zhang, M. (2026). Blood flow restriction during small-sided games enhances physiological adaptations and performance improvements in well-trained basketball players: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Sports Sciences, 44(3), 372-386. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2025.2580845