Effects of Low-Intensity Blood Flow Restriction Exercise and High-Intensity Resistance Exercise on Biceps Muscle Activity and Hemodynamic Variables

AbstractIntroduction: The blood flow restriction method is a training method that is based on the partial occlusion of circulation during a workout. This technique combines low-intensity exercise with the occlusion of the bloodstream which produces results similar to high-intensity training.Aim: We aimed to identify the areas in which this method is applicable, its potential benefits and effects, recommendations regarding the rules of use for maximal effects (dosage, intensity, etc.), and also possible contraindications or warnings regarding the use of this method.Methods: We have analyzed a number of 20 articles on this topic from the field literature of the last 10 years, using ”google academic” as a search engine.Results: After this study we concluded that blood flow restriction is a method with wide applicability in the field of sports training, but also in the recovery process; however, it requires attention in choosing the necessary equipment. For healthy individuals, best training adaptations occur when combining low-load blood flow restriction resistance exercise with traditional high-load resistance exercise.Conclusion: Low-intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction is as effective as high-intensity training (for strength and muscle mass gains), but only the high-intensity protocol promotes significant hypotensive responses after exercise.

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The Effect of Eccentric Resistance Training with and Without Blood Flow Restriction on Serum IL6 and MMP9 Levels in Young Active Men

Journal of Archives in Military Medicine ◽

10.5812/jamm.106779 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Mohammad Eslamdoust ◽

Farshad Ghazalian ◽

Mandana Gholami ◽

Khosrow Ebrahim ◽

Behzad Bazgir

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Resistance Training ◽

Resistance Exercise ◽

Eccentric Exercise ◽

High Intensity ◽

Young Men ◽

Blood Flow Restriction ◽

Exercise Modality ◽

Flow Restriction ◽

Low Intensity

Background: It has been assumed that during and after BFR exercises, many blood factors are activated and angiogenesis response is stimulated in the arteries. Objectives: Therefore, the current study aimed to determine the effect of two eccentric resistance training methods with and without blood flow restriction on serum IL6 and MMP9 levels in active young men. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 16 healthy men with a mean age of 27.8 ± 2.85 (years), the weight of 79.4 ± 12.4 (kg), and a body mass index of 25.5 ± 3.7 (kg/m2) were randomly assigned to either low-intensity eccentric group with BFR or the high-intensity eccentric without BFR. The high-intensity (70% - 80% maximum voluntary contraction MVC) eccentric exercise without BFR included 3 - 5 cycles of eccentric contraction of the quadriceps muscles, up to exhaustion, whereas low-intensity eccentric exercise executed similar exercise modality at intensity of 20% - 30% MVC with blood flow restriction up to exhaustion. Blood samples were taken from antecubital both before and after the exercise to measure serum IL6 and MMP9 values using the ELISA method. Data were analyzed using paired t-test and analysis of variance with repeated measure test in SPSS version 22. A P value of < 0.05 was defined as statistically significant. Results: High-intensity resistance per se and low-intensity resistance exercise with BFR similarly resulted in a non-significant reduction of IL-6 and elevated levels of MMP-9 serum levels in active young men. Conclusions: Overall, the results indicated that a low-intensity resistance exercise session with restricted blood flow and a high-intensity resistance exercise without blood flow restriction equally did not affect IL6 and MMP9 serum of active young men. Further studies are needed to clarify the exact exercise modality that sufficiently stimulates angiogenesis.

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Dose effect on intramuscular metabolic stress during low-intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.00504.2009 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 108 (6) ◽

pp. 1563-1567 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

Tadashi Suga ◽

Koichi Okita ◽

Noriteru Morita ◽

Takashi Yokota ◽

Kagami Hirabayashi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Resistance Exercise ◽

Exercise Intensity ◽

High Intensity ◽

Metabolic Stress ◽

Blood Flow Restriction ◽

Dose Effect ◽

Flow Restriction ◽

Low Intensity ◽

Dose Effects

Our previous study reported that metabolic stress in skeletal muscle achieved by combining moderate blood flow restriction (BFR) with low-intensity resistance exercise at 20% of one repetition maximum (1 RM) could not reach the level achieved by high-intensity resistance exercise. Since the previous protocol is typical of current regimens of this type, we sought in this study to optimize the exercise protocol for low-intensity resistance exercise with BFR by examining the dose effects of exercise intensity and pressure. Twelve healthy subjects participated in this study. They were asked to perform unilateral plantar flexion for 2 min (30 repetitions/min) under six different conditions: two resistance exercises (20% 1 RM and 65% 1 RM) without BFR, and four BFR protocols. The four BFR protocols included three different exercise intensities (20, 30, and 40% 1 RM) with moderate pressure (MP) using 130% of systolic blood pressure (147 ± 17 mmHg, mean ± SD) and 20% 1 RM with high pressure at 200 mmHg. Intramuscular metabolites and pH were obtained by 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Significant dose effects on intramuscular metabolites and pH were observed for exercise intensity ( P < 0.001) but not for BFR pressure. The BFR protocol combining 30% 1 RM with MP had similar results as the high-intensity load at 65% 1 RM. Intramuscular metabolic stress during BFR exercise might be susceptible to increasing exercise intensity. To replace high-intensity resistance exercise, the BFR protocol might require an intensity of ≥30% 1 RM.

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Responses of platelet CD markers and indices to resistance exercise with and without blood flow restriction in patients with type 2 diabetes

Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation ◽

10.3233/ch-211229 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Elahe Malekyian Fini ◽

Morteza Salimian ◽

Sajad Ahmadizad

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Blood Flow ◽

Resistance Exercise ◽

High Intensity ◽

Blood Flow Restriction ◽

Group Differences ◽

Flow Restriction ◽

Low Intensity ◽

Cd Markers

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a common disorder with the risk of vascular injury. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of low-intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction versus high-intensity resistance exercise on platelet CD markers and indices in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Fifteen female patients with type 2 diabetes (Mean±SD; age, 47.6±7.2 yrs) randomly completed two resistance exercise at an intensity corresponding to 20% and 80% of one-repetition maximum (1-RM), with and without blood flow restriction (REBFR and RE), respectively. We measured markers of platelet activation (P-selectin, GpIIb/IIIa, and CD42) and platelet indices before and immediately after exercise, and after 30 min recovery. RESULTS: Platelet count (PLT) and plateletcrit (PCT) increased in response to REBFR more than the RE (p < 0.05), though, no significant differences in PDW and MPV were observed (p < 0.05). Although P-selectin (CD62P), CD61, CD41, and CD42 were reduced following resistance exercise in both trials, these reductions were non-significant (p < 0.05). Besides, no significant between-group differences were found for platelet CD markers (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that REBFR induces thrombocytosis, but responses of platelet CD markers in patients with type 2 diabetes are similar following low-intensity REBFR and high-intensity RE.

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Intramuscular metabolism during low-intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.90368.2008 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 106 (4) ◽

pp. 1119-1124 ◽

Cited By ~ 83

Author(s):

Tadashi Suga ◽

Koichi Okita ◽

Noriteru Morita ◽

Takashi Yokota ◽

Kagami Hirabayashi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Resistance Training ◽

Resistance Exercise ◽

High Intensity ◽

Plantar Flexion ◽

Blood Flow Restriction ◽

Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

Flow Restriction ◽

Low Intensity ◽

Intramuscular Ph

Although recent studies have reported that low-intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction could stress the muscle effectively and provide rapid muscle hypertrophy and strength gain equivalent to those of high-intensity resistance training, the exact mechanism and its generality have not yet been clarified. We investigated the intramuscular metabolism during low-intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction and compared it with that of high-intensity and low-intensity resistance exercises without blood flow restriction using 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Twenty-six healthy subjects (22 ± 4 yr) participated and performed unilateral plantar flexion (30 repetitions/min) for 2 min. Protocols were as follows: low-intensity exercise (L) using a load of 20% of one-repetition maximum (1 RM), L with blood flow restriction (LR), and high-intensity exercise using 65% 1 RM (H). Intramuscular phosphocreatine (PCr) and diprotonated phosphate (H2PO4−) levels and intramuscular pH at rest and during exercise were obtained. We found that the PCr depletion, the H2PO4− increase, and the intramuscular pH decrease during LR were significantly greater than those in L ( P < 0.001); however, those in LR were significantly lower than those in H ( P < 0.001). The recruitment of fast-twitch fiber evaluated by inorganic phosphate splitting occurred in only 31% of the subjects in LR, compared with 70% in H. In conclusion, the metabolic stress in skeletal muscle during low-intensity resistance exercise was significantly increased by applying blood flow restriction, but did not generally reach that during high-intensity resistance exercise. This new method of resistance training needs to be examined for optimization of the protocol to reach equivalence with high-intensity resistance training.

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