•  
  •  
 

TIME COURSE OF CHANGE IN MACRO- AND MICRO-VASCULAR FUNCTION WITH BLOOD FLOW RESTRICTED RESISTANCE TRAINING

Abstract

Madeline L. Rheault1, Masahiro Horiuchi2, Lee Stoner, FACSM1, Jillian Poles1. 1University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC. 2Mount Fuji Research Institute, Fujiyoshida, Japan.

BACKGROUND: Blood-flow restricted resistance training (BFR) permits skeletal muscle adaptations at low intensities, making this approach appealing to certain populations, including those with orthopedic complications. However, the findings are mixed when it comes to the effects of BFR on vascular function. The aim of this study was to determine the macrovascular and microvascular function responses to BFR compared to a high-intensity resistance training (HIT) control group. METHODS: Twenty-four young, healthy men were randomly assigned to BFR or HIT. Participants performed bilateral knee extensions and leg presses 4 days per week, for 4 weeks. For each exercise, the BFR group completed 3 X 10 repetitions/day at 30% of one repetition maximum (1-RM). The occlusive pressure was applied at 1.3 X individual systolic blood pressure. The exercise prescription was identical for HIT, except the intensity was set at 75% of 1-RM. Outcomes were measured pre- and post 2- and 4-weeks of training. The primary macrovascular function outcome was heart-ankle pulse wave velocity (haPWV), and the primary microvascular function outcome was tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) area under the curve (AUC) response to reactive hyperemia. RESULTS: Knee extension and leg press 1-RM increased by 14% for both groups after 4 weeks. There was a significant interaction effect for haPWV, decreasing -5% (Δ-31.8 mm s-1, 95%CI: -51.9 to -11.8, ES=-0.53) for BFR and -1% (Δ-4 mm s-1, 95%CI: -23.2 to 17.0, ES=-0.05) for HIT. Similarly, there was an interaction effect for StO2 AUC, increasing 5% (Δ47 %･s, 95%CI: -4.6 to 99.6, ES=0.31) for HIT and 17% (Δ159 %･s, 95%CI: 106.7 to 210.9, ES=1.03) for BFR group. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings suggest that, at least in young, healthy men, BFR can increase leg strength at low intensities without compromising macrovascular or microvascular function.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS