Acute resistance exercise with blood flow restriction effects on heart rate, double product, oxygen saturation and perceived exertion

Context: Given the comparable muscle hypertrophy constantly observed between blood-flow restriction exercise (BFR-RE) and conventional resistance exercise, understanding their particular rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and pain may help to better prescribe exercise at a low-discomfort level, thus increasing its feasibility. Design: Randomized crossover study. Objective: To compare the RPE and pain response between conventional high- (HI-RE) and low-intensity resistance exercise (LI-RE) protocols to failure with a nonmuscular failure LI-RE associated with BFR-RE. Participants: A total of 12 men (age: 20 [3] y; body mass: 73.5 [9] kg; height: 174 [6] cm). Interventions: Four sets of 45° leg-press exercises in 3 different conditions: (1) BFR-RE (15 repetitions; 30% 1-repetition maximum), (2) HI-RE (80% 1-repetition maximum to muscular failure), and (3) LI-RE (30% 1-repetition maximum to muscular failure). Main Outcome Measures: RPE and pain were assessed immediately before exercise session and after the end of each of the 4 sets. Results: RPE and pain levels increased throughout the exercise sets for all RE protocols (all, Ps < .05). HI-RE and LI-RE protocols showed similar increase in RPE and pain levels during all exercise sets (P < .05); however, both protocols demonstrated higher RPE and pain response compared with BFR-RE after each of the 4 sets (all Ps < .05 between-group comparisons). Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that both HI-RE and LI-RE to muscular failure resulted in similar and significant increases in RPE and pain levels, regardless of exercise intensity. In addition, nonmuscular failure BFR-RE also increased RPE and pain response, however, to a lower extent compared with either HI-RE or LI-RE.

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Does Peripheral Lower Body Blood Flow Restriction Training Effect Aerobic Adaptations in Recreationally Active Adults? A Case Series

Journal of Exercise and Nutrition ◽

10.53520/jen2022.103109 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Austin Bennett ◽

Sean Collins ◽

Kaitlyn King ◽

Caitlyn Harper ◽

Jill Lucas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Blood Flow ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Case Series ◽

Blood Flow Restriction ◽

Aerobic Performance ◽

Target Tissue ◽

Flow Restriction ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Active Adults

Introduction: Blood flow restriction (BFR) training is a novel training method that has been shown to promote positive aerobic and anaerobic adaptations under low intensity exercise by inhibiting blood flow to target tissue resulting in hypoxia and metabolic byproduct accumulation. This has been shown to have a direct positive effect on aerobic performance adaptation. The purpose was to explore the effect of BFR training on aerobic performance. Methods: Seven recreationally active adults were randomly assigned to either the BFR group (n=4, BFR) or non-BFR group (n=3, CON). Three testing sessions were conducted throughout the study (Pre-Test, Mid-Test, Post-Test) which consisted of a graded cycle ergometer maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) test using COSMED-K5 indirect calorimetry. Eleven BFR training sessions were performed consisting of 20-min of cycling at 35-45% of heart rate reserve (HRR) with at 60% (BFR) or 5% (CON) arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) on the BFR cuffs. Results: Absolute VO2max, Relative VO2max, respiratory exchange ratio (RER), maximum heart rate (HRmax), and maximum rate of perceived exertion (RPEmax) reported no significant difference between BFR and CON. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) found in time to reach VO2max and maximum watts (Wmax) reached which declined over the course of the training intervention. Conclusions: Bilateral lower limb aerobic BFR training resulted in no change in VO2max over seven weeks.

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