The effects of blood flow restriction resistance training on indices of delayed onset muscle soreness and peak power

BACKGROUND: Low-load resistance training with blood flow restriction (LL + BFR) attenuated delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) under some conditions. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study examined the effects of reciprocal concentric-only elbow flexion-extension muscle actions at 30% of peak torque on indices of DOMS. METHODS: Thirty untrained women (mean ± SD; 22 ± 2.4 years) were randomly assigned to 6 training days of LL + BFR (n= 10), low-load non-BFR (LL) (n= 10), or control (n= 10). Participants completed 4 sets (1 × 30, 3 × 15) of submaximal (30% of peak torque), unilateral, isokinetic (120∘s-1) muscle actions. Indices of DOMS including peak power, resting elbow joint angle (ROM), perceived muscle soreness (VAS), and pain pressure threshold (PPT) were assessed. RESULTS: There were no changes in peak power, ROM, or VAS. There was a significant interaction for PPT. Follow-up analyses indicated PPT increased for the LL + BFR condition (Day 5 > Day 2), but did not decrease below baseline. The results of the present study indicated LL + BFR and LL did not induce DOMS for the elbow extensors in previously untrained women. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested LL + BFR and LL concentric-only resistance training could be an effective training modality to elicit muscular adaptation without inducing DOMS.

Download Full-text

Eccentric and concentric blood flow restriction resistance training on indices of delayed onset muscle soreness in untrained women

European Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1007/s00421-019-04220-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 119 (10) ◽

pp. 2363-2373 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ethan C. Hill ◽

Terry J. Housh ◽

Cory M. Smith ◽

Joshua L. Keller ◽

Richard J. Schmidt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Resistance Training ◽

Muscle Soreness ◽

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness ◽

Blood Flow Restriction ◽

Flow Restriction ◽

Delayed Onset

Download Full-text

Blood Flow Restriction Therapy Impact on Musculoskeletal Strength and Mass

Video Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/26350254211032681 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (5) ◽

pp. 263502542110326

Author(s):

Steven R. Dayton ◽

Simon J. Padanilam ◽

Tyler C. Sylvester ◽

Michael J. Boctor ◽

Vehniah K. Tjong

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Resistance Training ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Load Resistance ◽

High Load ◽

Blood Flow Restriction ◽

Occlusion Pressure ◽

Total Occlusion ◽

Flow Restriction ◽

Low Load

Background: Blood flow restriction (BFR) training restricts arterial inflow and venous outflow from the extremity and can produce gains in muscle strength at low loads. Low-load training reduces joint stress and decreases cardiovascular risk when compared with high-load training, thus making BFR an excellent option for many patients requiring rehabilitation. Indications: Blood flow restriction has shown clinical benefit in a variety of patient populations including healthy patients as well as those with osteoarthritis, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, and Achilles tendon rupture. Technique Description: This video demonstrates BFR training in 3 clinical areas: upper extremity resistance training, lower extremity resistance training, and low-intensity cycling. All applications of BFR first require determination of total occlusion pressure. Upper extremity training requires inflating the tourniquet to 50% of total occlusion pressure, while lower extremity exercises use 80% of total occlusion pressure. Low-load resistance training exercises follow a specific repetition scheme: 30 reps followed by a 30-second rest and then 3 sets of 15 reps with 30-seconds rest between each. During cycle training, 80% total occlusion pressure is used as the patient cycles for 15 minutes without rest. Results: Augmenting low-load resistance training with BFR increases muscle strength when compared with low-load resistance alone. In addition, low-load BFR has demonstrated an increase in muscle mass greater than low-load training alone and equivalent to high-load training absent BFR. A systematic review determined the safety of low-load training with BFR is comparable to traditional high-intensity resistance training. The most common adverse effects include exercise intolerance, discomfort, and dull pain which are also frequent in patients undergoing traditional resistance training. Severe adverse effects including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and rhabdomyolysis are exceedingly rare, less than 0.006% according to a national survey. Patients undergoing BFR rehabilitation experience less perceived exertion and demonstrate decreased pain scores compared with high-load resistance training. Conclusion: Blood flow restriction training is an effective alternative to high-load resistance training for patients requiring musculoskeletal rehabilitation for multiple disease processes as well as in the perioperative setting. Blood flow restriction has been shown to be a safe training modality when managed by properly trained physical therapists and athletic trainers.

Download Full-text

Low-load blood flow restriction training induces similar morphological and mechanical Achilles tendon adaptations compared with high-load resistance training

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.00602.2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 127 (6) ◽

pp. 1660-1667 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Christoph Centner ◽

Benedikt Lauber ◽

Olivier R. Seynnes ◽

Simon Jerger ◽

Tim Sohnius ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Resistance Training ◽

Achilles Tendon ◽

Load Resistance ◽

High Load ◽

Blood Flow Restriction ◽

Resistance Training Program ◽

Flow Restriction ◽

Low Load ◽

Tendon Properties

Low-load blood flow restriction (LL-BFR) training has gained increasing interest in the scientific community by demonstrating that increases in muscle mass and strength are comparable to conventional high-load (HL) resistance training. Although adaptations on the muscular level are well documented, there is little evidence on how LL-BFR training affects human myotendinous properties. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate morphological and mechanical Achilles tendon adaptations after 14 wk of strength training. Fifty-five male volunteers (27.9 ± 5.1 yr) were randomly allocated into the following three groups: LL-BFR [20–35% of one-repetition maximum (1RM)], HL (70–85% 1RM), or a nonexercising control (CON) group. The LL-BFR and HL groups completed a resistance training program for 14 wk, and tendon morphology, mechanical as well as material properties, and muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and isometric strength were assessed before and after the intervention. Both HL (+40.7%) and LL-BFR (+36.1%) training induced significant increases in tendon stiffness ( P < 0.05) as well as tendon CSA (HL: +4.6%, LL-BFR: +7.8%, P < 0.001). These changes were comparable between groups without significant changes in Young’s modulus. Furthermore, gastrocnemius medialis muscle CSA and plantar flexor strength significantly increased in both training groups ( P < 0.05), whereas the CON group did not show significant changes in any of the evaluated parameters. In conclusion, the adaptive change in Achilles tendon properties following low-load resistance training with partial vascular occlusion appears comparable to that evoked by high-load resistance training. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Low-load blood flow restriction (LL-BFR) training has been shown to induce beneficial adaptations at the muscular level. However, studies examining the effects on human tendon properties are rare. The findings provide first evidence that LL-BFR can increase Achilles tendon mechanical and morphological properties to a similar extent as conventional high-load resistance training. This is of particular importance for individuals who may not tolerate heavy training loads but still aim for improvements in myotendinous function.

Download Full-text