The effects of ischemic preconditioning and placebo maneuvers are similar during arm-cranking performance in upper-body trained athletes

This study aimed to examine the effects of local ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on 45 s arm-crank Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) performance and accompanying physiological responses in athletes. Eighteen (9 male, 9 female) athletes (22.8 ± 3.5 years) completed a baseline and three experimental trials: control (CON; 30 min rest), IPC (4 ⋅ 5 min bilaterally at limb occlusion pressure), and placebo (PLA; 4 ⋅ 5 min at 40 mm Hg). WAnT performance, oxygen consumption (V̇O2), heartrate (HR), near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and blood lactate [La–]b responses were assessed. Absolute mean power outputs (MPOA; W) were similar between IPC and PLA (p = 0.06) and significantly greater than CON (IPC: 370 ± 105, PLA: 363 ± 102, CON: 349 ± 91 W, p < 0.001). IPC increased relative MPO (MPOR; W·kg–1) compared to PLA and CON (IPC: 4.8 ± 1.0, PLA: 4.7 ± 1.0, CON: 4.6 ± 0.9 W·kg–1, p < 0.001). V̇O2, HR, NIRS, and [La–]b responses during and post-exercise were unaffected by IPC. Acute IPC of the arms elicited trivial differences in performance during 45 s arm-cranking WAnTs in upper-body trained athletes. Under these specific conditions, no changes were detected in the measured physiological responses, which limits insight into potential mechanisms for IPC to enhance performance in arm-dominant exercises.