Evidence mapPaperPMID 41783456Full record

ReviewBiology of sport2026

Enhancing physical performance with ischemic preconditioning: a systematic review and meta-analysis of moderators and performance outcomes.

Yilin Zhang, Kai Xu, Hao Kong, Mingyue Yin, Chenghao Liu, Yun Xie, Liam Kilduff, Gustavo R Mota, Olivier Girard

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Biology of sport, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Yilin ZhangSchool of Sports Training, Tianjin University of Sport, No.16 Donghai Road, Tuanbo New Town West, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China.
Kai XuSchool of Medical and Healt Sciences, Centre for Human Performance, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia.
Hao KongSchool of Sports Training, Tianjin University of Sport, No.16 Donghai Road, Tuanbo New Town West, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China.
Mingyue YinThe Mar MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne,VIC. 3000, Australia.
Chenghao LiuSchool of Sports Training, Tianjin University of Sport, No.16 Donghai Road, Tuanbo New Town West, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China.
Yun XieSchool of Sports Training, Tianjin University of Sport, No.16 Donghai Road, Tuanbo New Town West, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China.
Liam KilduffA-STEM, School of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
Gustavo R MotaExercise Science, Health and Human Performance Research Group, Department of Sport Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba/MG, Brazil.
Olivier GirardSchool of Human Science (Exercise and Sport Sciences), The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study examined the effects of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on physical performance, considering the influence of timing, warm-up (WU), participant characteristics, and IPC protocols structure. A total of 90 trials (1,439 participants) were retrieved from three databases and assessed using PICOS criteria. Multilevel meta-analyses with cluster-robust variance adjustments were conducted to calculate pooled effect sizes (Hedge's g). Risk of bias and certainty of evidence were assessed using the RoB 2 tool and GRADE framework. IPC produced a trivial but significant improvement in physical performance (g = 0.13, P < 0.01), which persisted after excluding SHAM effects (g = 0.10; P < 0.01). Significant improvements were observed for maximum repetitions, time to failure, and power output, but not for jump ability, strength, or oxygen uptake. Comparable benefits were found for anaerobic (g = 0.15) and aerobic (g = 0.10) exercise, with greater effects in males and less-trained participants. Performance was further enhanced when IPC was followed by WU (g = 0.16), with the optimal IPC-to-WU interval being ~42 minutes. Without WU, the effective IPC window narrowed to 6-7 minutes. In practice, IPC can enhance physical performance, independently of sham effects, moderated by sex, training level, and WU. For competition or testing, the most effective strategy appears to be 3 or 4 × 5-min IPC protocol, followed by a 42-min interval, standardized warm-up, and endurance testing. For mechanistic studies, WU should be excluded, and testing conducted 6-7 minutes post-IPC. Future research should target women, middle-aged individuals, and elite athletes.

Indexed as

Blood flow restrictionErgogenic aidsExercise performancePlaceboTime windowTraining levelWarm-up protocols

Identifiers

PMID41783456
PMCPMC12954497

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.