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This study investigated whether walking with blood flow restriction (BFR) increases acute cardiorespiratory demands to the point that it can be considered an alternative for jogging. Sixteen physically active adults completed five experimental sessions (order randomised), comprising 10 min of treadmill exercise. Two sessions included unrestricted walking, two sessions required walking with BFR cuffs positioned on the lower limbs inflated to 60% of individualised arterial occlusion pressure, and one session was conducted at a jogging pace. Comfortable walking and jogging speeds were calculated during the familiarisation session. Walking speeds were individualised to either 100% (speed: 6.0 ± 0.3km•h-1[low-intensity]) or 120% (speed: 7.2 ± 0.3km•h-1[moderate-intensity]) of comfortable walking speed. The jogging session was unrestricted (speed: 9.1 ± 0.7km•h-1). Initial analysis compared walking conditions across heart rate, left cardiac work index, systolic blood pressure, relative oxygen consumption, minute ventilation, rating of perceived exertion and limb discomfort. Secondary analysis compared the walking session with the highest cardio-respiratory demands to jogging. Initial analysis identified that moderate-intensity with BFR induced the highest cardio-respiratory and perceptual responses compared with any other walking sessions (p < 0.01). Secondary analysis revealed that all cardio-respiratory measures were higher during jogging when compared with moderate-intensity with BFR (p < 0.01), except systolic blood pressure (p = 0.10). All perceptual measures were higher during moderate-intensity with BFR (p < 0.01) compared with jogging. Low-to moderate-intensity BFR-walking produces lower acute cardio-respiratory responses at higher ratings of perceived exertion and discomfort compared with jogging. Overall, BFRwalking does not seem to provide an equivalent exercise modality for unrestricted jogging in physically active adults. HIGHLIGHTS. In young active adults, walking with blood flow restriction increases cardio-respiratory demands, yet not to a level equivalent to jogging. . Moderate-intensity blood flow restricted walking elicits higher exercise-related sensation of exertion and leg discomfort than jogging. . Blood flow restriction application increases exercise severity whereby moderate-intensity BFRwalking and jogging are both considered vigorous-intensity exercise.

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This study investigated the impact of blood flow restriction (BFR) during treadmill walking on gait kinematics. Twenty-one participants completed one familiarisation and four experimental sessions, including two walking speeds (moderate [5.0 ± 0.3km•h −1 ] and fast [6.4 ± 0.4km•h −1 ]) and two occlusion conditions (BFR [60% of arterial occlusion pressure] and unrestricted). For each exercise intensity, the BFR session was performed first. Participants were instructed to walk as long as possible, with sessions capped at 20 min. Unrestricted sessions were time-matched, and the order of exercise intensity was randomised. Kinematics were collected over 10s every minute using retro-reflective markers affixed to specific body landmarks. Ratings of perceived exertion and discomfort were collected every two minutes. Blood samples were collected from the fingertip pre-exercise and the finger and toe post-exercise, and were analysed for lactate, electrolytes, and markers of cell-membrane damage. During the BFR sessions the cuffs remained inflated while the blood samples were collected. Fast-walk BFR sessions exhibited higher anterior trunk flexion (p = 0.001) and knee flexion during stance (p = 0.001) compared to all other sessions. Step width was increased during BFR sessions (p = 0.001), but no difference in step length (p = 0.300) or cadence (p = 0.922) were observed. The time required to elicit change in anterior trunk flexion and plantar-flexion angle at toe-off was shorter during BFR sessions (p = 0.024). The BFR sessions elicited the highest ratings of perceived exertion and discomfort, as well as blood lactate concentration (p ≤ 0.001). Application of BFR during moderate and fast treadmill walking modifies gait kinematics and exacerbates exercise-related sensations as well as blood lactate concentration. KEYWORDS 3D analysis; biomechanics; physiology and exercise Highlights. Applying blood flow restriction changes walking kinematics, causing an overall increase in anterior trunk flexion and knee flexion during stance while simultaneously reducing plantarflexion angle at toe-off and ankle joint velocity. . Applying blood flow restriction exacerbate exercise-related sensations of exertion and discomfort. . Sample site does not influence the level of post-exercise blood lactate or markers of cellmembrane potential and damage.