A tale of three cuffs: the hemodynamics of blood flow restriction

Abstract

Under relative levels of restriction, pressures from 40 to 90% of AOP appear to decrease blood flow to a similar degree in these three cuffs. Relative pressures appear to elicit a similar blood flow stimulus when accounting for cuff width and participant characteristics.

Blood flow restriction and cuff width: effect on blood flow in the legs

“…This study was approved by the University's Institutional Review Board and was part of a larger study also involving the upper body (Mouser et al, 2017b). Participants were recruited from the university and surrounding area (men = 17, women = 14) and visited the laboratory on two separate occasions at the same time of day.…”

“…We have previously reported that blood flow is reduced in a nonlinear fashion when applying relative levels of 10% increments of AOP in the upper body using a 5 cm wide cuff (Mouser et al, 2017a) and have further shown that this relationship is not different when applying relative pressures using 5-, 10-and 12-cm cuffs (Mouser et al, 2017b). Work performed by Hunt et al (2016) examining the decrease in blood flow at absolute increments of 10 mmHg determined the decrease to be linear.…”

“…As long as relative pressures are used, it appears that the blood flow response is similar across a range of cuffs in both the upper (Mouser et al, 2017b) and lower body. As long as relative pressures are used, it appears that the blood flow response is similar across a range of cuffs in both the upper (Mouser et al, 2017b) and lower body.…”

Interface pressure, perceptual, and mean arterial pressure responses to different blood flow restriction systems

“…As previously stated, 80% LOP was higher in the PT system compared to the RI system, yet it produced a smaller post‐exercise MAP response that had returned to baseline by 5‐minutes post‐exercise. Recent research demonstrated similar levels of blood flow reduction at rest between different cuffs when set at relative pressures between 40% and 90% LOP . Although speculative at present, the dynamic nature of BFR exercise and associated increase in interface pressure in certain BFR systems may contribute to greater mechanical compression, which could possibly influence limb blood flow at relative pressures in different BFR systems and contribute to an augmented MAP response.…”

“…Recent research demonstrated similar levels of blood flow reduction at rest between different cuffs when set at relative pressures between 40% and 90% LOP. 36 Although speculative at present, the dynamic nature of BFR exercise and associated increase in interface pressure in certain BFR systems may contribute to greater mechanical compression, which could possibly influence limb blood flow at relative pressures in different BFR systems and contribute to an augmented MAP response. It is of note that CV responses are similar during light load BFR training to heavy load training.…”