UMIN-ICDS Clinical Trial

Unique ID issued by UMIN UMIN000061381
Receipt number R000070228
Scientific Title Acute effects of blood flow restriction-augmented passive manual therapy on hip flexion range of motion (Straight Leg Raise) and muscle stiffness: A within-subject controlled trial
Date of disclosure of the study information 2026/04/27
Last modified on 2026/04/26 19:10:42

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Basic information

Public title

Acute effects of blood flow restriction-augmented passive manual therapy on hip flexion range of motion (Straight Leg Raise) and muscle stiffness: A within-subject controlled trial

Acronym

BFR-SLR Study

Scientific Title

Acute effects of blood flow restriction-augmented passive manual therapy on hip flexion range of motion (Straight Leg Raise) and muscle stiffness: A within-subject controlled trial

Scientific Title:Acronym

BFR-SLR Study

Region

Japan


Condition

Condition

Healthy adults (musculoskeletal flexibility assessment)

Classification by specialty

Orthopedics Rehabilitation medicine Adult

Classification by malignancy

Others

Genomic information

NO


Objectives

Narrative objectives1

To investigate the acute effects of blood flow restriction (BFR)-augmented passive manual therapy on hip flexion range of motion (ROM) measured by the Straight Leg Raise (SLR) test and muscle stiffness in healthy adults, compared with the same therapy without BFR.

Basic objectives2

Efficacy

Basic objectives -Others


Trial characteristics_1

Exploratory

Trial characteristics_2

Explanatory

Developmental phase

Not applicable


Assessment

Primary outcomes

Pre-to-post change in passive hip flexion range of motion (ROM) measured by the Straight Leg Raise (SLR) test. With the participant in the supine position and both lower limbs in extension on the examination table, the examiner passively elevates the test limb while maintaining the knee in full extension, until the participant's tolerable maximum (point of discomfort). Hip flexion angle is measured using a standard goniometer with the axis aligned at the greater trochanter, with the stationary arm parallel to the examination table and the movable arm aligned with the long axis of the femur (greater trochanter to lateral femoral epicondyle). Three measurements are taken at each time point; the mean value is used for analysis. Timing: immediately before and immediately after the intervention.

Key secondary outcomes

1) Pre-to-post change in tissue hardness of the rectus femoris (quadriceps), measured using NEUTONE TDM-N1 (TRY-ALL Corp., Chiba, Japan). The device measures the penetration resistance of a hemispherical indenter at standardized contact pressure, providing relative hardness values on a unitless 0-100 scale. Three measurements per site; the mean value is used for analysis. Timing: immediately before and immediately after the intervention.

2) Pre-to-post change in tissue hardness of the biceps femoris (hamstrings), measured using the same device, method, and timing as above.

3) Adverse events (numbness/subcutaneous bleeding at the cuff application site, pain during the intervention, etc.), evaluated throughout and after the intervention.


Base

Study type

Interventional


Study design

Basic design

Cross-over

Randomization

Randomized

Randomization unit

Individual

Blinding

Open -no one is blinded

Control

Active

Stratification

NO

Dynamic allocation

NO

Institution consideration

Institution is not considered as adjustment factor.

Blocking

NO

Concealment

No need to know


Intervention

No. of arms

2

Purpose of intervention

Treatment

Type of intervention

Device,equipment Maneuver

Interventions/Control_1

BFR condition: A pneumatic cuff (FAST BELT, 28 cm width; Inifia Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) is applied to the proximal thigh and inflated to 200-250 mmHg. Six consecutive passive manual techniques are performed for 20 seconds each, totaling approximately 2 minutes: (1) hip joint mobilization (internal and external rotation, supine); (2) passive stretching of the hamstrings and lower leg (supine); (3) passive stretching of the gluteus medius (supine); (4) passive stretching of the gluteus maximus (supine); (5) passive stretching of the hip adductors (supine); (6) passive stretching of the quadriceps (side-lying). All techniques are performed by the clinician to the participant's tolerable end range. The cuff is deflated immediately after the final technique. Intervention time: approximately 2 minutes per limb.

Interventions/Control_2

Control condition: The contralateral limb undergoes the same six-technique protocol without BFR. The same clinician performs identical techniques in the same standardized order and duration (20 seconds each). Intervention time: approximately 2 minutes per limb.

Interventions/Control_3


Interventions/Control_4


Interventions/Control_5


Interventions/Control_6


Interventions/Control_7


Interventions/Control_8


Interventions/Control_9


Interventions/Control_10



Eligibility

Age-lower limit

20 years-old <=

Age-upper limit

65 years-old >=

Gender

Male and Female

Key inclusion criteria

(1) Healthy adults aged 20-65 years; (2) No current lower limb injuries; (3) No contraindications to blood flow restriction (BFR), such as deep vein thrombosis, peripheral vascular disease, or pregnancy; (4) Able to provide written informed consent; (5) Able to undergo passive manual therapy on both lower limbs.

Key exclusion criteria

(1) Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or history thereof; (2) Peripheral vascular disease; (3) Pregnancy; (4) Severe hypertension (systolic >=180 mmHg or diastolic >=110 mmHg); (5) Use of anticoagulant medication; (6) Acute musculoskeletal injury; (7) Other conditions deemed unsafe by the principal investigator.

Target sample size

26


Research contact person

Name of lead principal investigator

1st name Yasuhiro
Middle name
Last name Aki

Organization

Givers Holdings Co., Ltd.

Division name

Headquarters

Zip code

160-0022

Address

Shinjuku East Court 8F, 6-28-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022, Japan

TEL

09082822314

Email

cocoro.aki@gmail.com


Public contact

Name of contact person

1st name Yasuhiro
Middle name
Last name Aki

Organization

Givers Holdings Co., Ltd.

Division name

Headquarters

Zip code

160-0022

Address

Shinjuku East Court 8F, 6-28-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022, Japan

TEL

09082822314

Homepage URL

https://givers.co.jp

Email

cocoro.aki@gmail.com


Sponsor or person

Institute

Givers Holdings Co., Ltd.

Institute

Department

Personal name

Yasuhiro Aki


Funding Source

Organization

Givers Holdings Co., Ltd.

Organization

Division

Category of Funding Organization

Self funding

Nationality of Funding Organization

Japan


Other related organizations

Co-sponsor


Name of secondary funder(s)



IRB Contact (For public release)

Organization

Givers Inc. Ethics Review Board

Address

Shinjuku East Court 8F, 6-28-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022, Japan

Tel

09063193977

Email

cocoro.tsuyama@gmail.com


Secondary IDs

Secondary IDs

NO

Study ID_1


Org. issuing International ID_1


Study ID_2


Org. issuing International ID_2


IND to MHLW



Institutions

Institutions

giversホールディングス株式会社 本部(東京都)
giversホールディングス株式会社 研修所(東京都)


Other administrative information

Date of disclosure of the study information

2026 Year 04 Month 27 Day


Related information

URL releasing protocol


Publication of results

Unpublished


Result

URL related to results and publications


Number of participants that the trial has enrolled

26

Results

The BFR limb showed significantly greater hip flexion ROM (SLR) improvement compared with the control limb (mean difference +6.6 degrees; 95% CI 3.2-10.0; paired t-test, p < 0.001; Cohen's dz = 0.81). Tissue hardness of the rectus femoris (p = 0.572; dz = 0.11) and biceps femoris (p = 0.694; dz = 0.08) did not differ significantly between conditions. No adverse events occurred.

Results date posted

2026 Year 04 Month 26 Day

Results Delayed

Delay expected

Results Delay Reason

The manuscript is being prepared for submission to BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation. Results will be updated after publication.

Date of the first journal publication of results


Baseline Characteristics

Twenty-six healthy adults (13 males, 13 females). Age 33.0 +/- 10.5 years (range 23-60 years). No current lower limb injuries, no contraindications to BFR application. BFR limb assignment: 13 participants on the right limb, 13 on the left (counterbalanced).

Participant flow

All 26 participants completed the study protocol. No dropouts or exclusions. Outcome measurements were performed immediately before and after the intervention in all participants.

Adverse events

No adverse events occurred. None of the participants reported pain, numbness, or discomfort beyond ordinary stretching sensation during or after BFR application. No subcutaneous bleeding at the cuff site, neurological symptoms, or other adverse events were recorded.

Outcome measures

Primary outcome: Hip flexion ROM (SLR); BFR limb +15.2 +/- 7.9 degrees, control limb +8.6 +/- 7.5 degrees, between-limb difference +6.6 degrees (95% CI 3.2-10.0; paired t-test p<0.001; Cohen's dz=0.81).

Secondary outcomes: (1) Pre-to-post change in rectus femoris hardness; between-limb difference -1.0 (95% CI -4.5, 2.5; p=0.572; dz=0.11). (2) Pre-to-post change in biceps femoris hardness; between-limb difference -0.5 (95% CI -3.8, 2.8; p=0.694; dz=0.08).

Plan to share IPD

No formal plan to share individual participant data (IPD). However, anonymized data may be shared upon reasonable request, at the discretion of the principal investigator (Yasuhiro Aki).

IPD sharing Plan description

Researchers wishing to access the data should submit a written request to the corresponding author (Yasuhiro Aki, aki@givers.co.jp), specifying the research purpose, analysis plan, and researcher affiliation.


Progress

Recruitment status

Completed

Date of protocol fixation

2026 Year 03 Month 29 Day

Date of IRB

2026 Year 03 Month 29 Day

Anticipated trial start date

2026 Year 03 Month 30 Day

Last follow-up date

2026 Year 04 Month 07 Day

Date of closure to data entry

2026 Year 04 Month 08 Day

Date trial data considered complete

2026 Year 04 Month 08 Day

Date analysis concluded

2026 Year 04 Month 09 Day


Other

Other related information

This trial was registered retrospectively with the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) after participant enrollment and data collection had been completed. The protocol was approved by the Givers Ethics Review Board (MHLW Registration No. 26000021) on March 29, 2026. Data collection was conducted from March 30 to April 7, 2026. Statistical analysis was completed by April 9, 2026.


Management information

Registered date

2026 Year 04 Month 26 Day

Last modified on

2026 Year 04 Month 26 Day



Link to view the page

Value
https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/icdr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000070228