The Effect of Ischemic Preconditioning on Tennis Exercise Performance and the Recovery Subsequent to a Simulated Tennis Match: A Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of acute ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on tennis skill and physical exercise performance, as well as to explore whether 7-day repeated IPC (RIPC) accelerated fatigue recovery after a simulated tennis match. METHODS: Twenty-nine male tennis-specific current students were randomly allocated into 1 of 2 groups: SHAM (n = 14, 3 × 5 min at 20 mm Hg) and IPC (n = 15, 3 × 5 min at 220 mm Hg). Participants in both groups engaged in acute IPC and RIPC interventions. After the first acute IPC intervention, assessments were conducted to evaluate tennis-specific skills and overall physical exercise capacity. Following completion of chronic RIPC interventions, all participants competed in a simulated tennis match specifically designed to induce fatigue. To evaluate recovery from this induced fatigue, physical exercise capacity tests were conducted at 24 and 48 hours postmatch, allowing for an assessment of the participants' recovery capabilities over time. RESULTS: After the first acute intervention, notable differences were observed between the IPC and SHAM groups in their performance on the repeated-sprint ability test. Specifically, the total times recorded were significantly shorter in the IPC group compared with the SHAM group (IPC: 109.05 [2.70] vs SHAM: 114.57 [7.45] s, P = .012), and this trend was also reflected in their best times (IPC: 4.20 [0.18] s vs SHAM: 4.39 [0.30] s, P = .042), indicating an immediate benefit of the IPC intervention on sprint performance. After a 7-day RIPC intervention, significant changes were noted in the SHAM group's performance metrics postmatch. There was an increase (P < .001) in fatigue index from 22% (8%) to 30% (9%) during repeated-sprint ability test and a decrease in serve speed from 120.2 (17.5) to 106.7 (13.0) km/h (P = .002) and knee peek torque from 196.0 (49.0) to 162.7 (39) N (extension, 60°/s, P < .001) in the SHAM group 24 hours postmatch, relative to the IPC group. Moreover, compared with the SHAM group, the IPC group showed a lower rate of perceived exertion during the match (P < .001) and a decrease in visual analog scale score (P = .026) 24 hours postmatch, suggesting enhanced recovery and reduced perception of pain relative to the SHAM group. CONCLUSION: IPC could serve as a strategy to generate an ergogenic effect and recovery during training and competition.