The acute and early phase effects of blood flow restriction training on ratings of perceived exertion, performance fatigability, and muscular strength in women

Context: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with blood flow restriction (BFR) has been shown to improve muscular strength and size better than NMES alone. However, previous studies used varied methodologies not recommended by previous NMES or BFR research. Objective: The present study investigated the acute effects of NMES combined with varying degrees of BFR using research-recommended procedures to enhance understanding and the clinical applicability of this combination. Design: Randomized crossover. Setting: Physiology laboratory. Participants: A total of 20 healthy adults (age 27 [4] y; height 177 [8] cm; body mass 77 [13] kg). Interventions: Six sessions separated by at least 7 days. The first 2 visits served as familiarization, with the experimental conditions performed in the final 4 sessions: NMES alone, NMES 40% BFR, NMES 60% BFR, and NMES 80% BFR. Main Outcome Measures: Maximal voluntary isometric contraction, muscle thickness, blood pressure, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and pain were all recorded before and after each condition. Results: The NMES 80% BFR caused greater maximal voluntary isometric contraction decline than any other condition (−38.9 [22.3] N·m, P < .01). Vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscle thickness acutely increased after all experimental conditions (P < .05). Pain and ratings of perceived exertion were higher after NMES 80% BFR compared with all other experimental conditions (P < .05). No cardiovascular effects were observed between conditions. Conclusion: The NMES combined with 80% BFR caused greater acute force decrement than the other conditions. However, greater perceptual ratings of pain and ratings of perceived exertion were observed with NMES 80% BFR. These acute observations must be investigated during chronic interventions to corroborate any relationship to changes in muscle strength and size in clinical populations.

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Hemodynamic and Pressor Responses to Combination of Yoga and Blood Flow Restriction

International Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1055/a-1171-1620 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Savannah V. Wooten ◽

Sten Stray-Gundersen ◽

Hirofumi Tanaka

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Blood Flow ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Oxygen Demand ◽

Blood Flow Restriction ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Myocardial Oxygen Demand ◽

Flow Restriction ◽

Pressor Responses ◽

The Impact

AbstractA combination of yoga and blood flow restriction, each of which elicits marked pressor responses, may further increase blood pressure and myocardial oxygen demand. To determine the impact of a combination of yoga and blood flow restriction on hemodynamic responses, twenty young healthy participants performed 20 yoga poses with/without blood flow restriction bands placed on both legs. At baseline, there were no significant differences in any of the variables between the blood flow restriction and non-blood flow restriction conditions. Blood pressure and heart rate increased in response to the various yoga poses (p<0.01) but were not different between the blood flow restriction and non-blood flow restriction conditions. Rate-pressure products, an index of myocardial oxygen demand, increased significantly during yoga exercises with no significant differences between the two conditions. Rating of perceived exertion was not different between the conditions. Blood lactate concentration was significantly greater after performing yoga with blood flow restriction bands (p=0.007). Cardio-ankle vascular index, an index of arterial stiffness, decreased similarly after yoga exercise in both conditions while flow-mediated dilation remained unchanged. In conclusion, the use of lower body blood flow restriction bands in combination with yoga did not result in additive or synergistic hemodynamic and pressor responses.

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