Acute Effects of Resistance Exercise With Continuous and Intermittent Blood Flow Restriction on Hemodynamic Measurements and Perceived Exertion

Abstract

This study compared the acute effects of low-intensity resistance exercise (RE) sessions for the upper limb with continuous and intermittent blood flow restriction (BFR) and high-intensity RE with no BFR on lactate, heart rate, double product (DP; heart rate times systolic blood pressure), and perceived exertion (RPE). Ten recreationally trained men (1-5 years strength training; age mean = 19 ± 0.82 years) performed three experimental protocols in random order: (a) low-intensity RE at 20% one-repetition maximum (1RM) with intermittent BFR (LI + IBFR), (b) low-intensity RE at 20% 1RM with continuous BFR (LI + CBFR), and (c) high-intensity RE at 80% 1RM. The three RE protocols increased lactate and DP at the end of the session ( p < .05) and increased heart rate at the end of each exercise ( p < .05). However, greater local and general RPE was observed in the high-intensity protocol compared with LI + IBFR and LI + CBFR in the lat pull-down, triceps curl, and biceps curl exercises ( p < .05). A greater percentage change in DP and lactate was observed for continuous BFR compared with intermittent BFR; however, RPE was lower for intermittent BFR. In conclusion, intermittent BFR appears to be an excellent option for physical training because it did not differ significantly from continuous BFR in any variable and promoted a lower percentage change in DP and RPE.

Effects of strength training with continuous or intermittent blood flow restriction on the hypertrophy, muscular strength and endurance of men

“…Among the studies that evaluated the application of BFR, only one study analyzed muscle strength and hypertrophy (Fitschen et al, 2014); however, this study used only one exercise with unilateral and single-joint execution. Although some studies have shown no significant differences between continuous and intermittent BFR in the muscle strength and hypertrophy of lower limbs (Fitschen et al, 2014), the muscle activation of the upper limbs (Yasuda et al, 2013) and the hemodynamics of the upper limbs (Neto et al, 2016a;2017b), the best strategy for ST sessions combined with BFR (continuous or intermittent) with the aim of increasing muscle hypertrophy (MH), dynamic muscular strength (DMS), isometric muscle strength (IMS) and localized muscle endurance (LME) of the upper limbs has still not been defined.…”

“…This method has been used to increase muscle hypertrophy (Laurentino et al, 2012;Vechin et al, 2015), muscle strength (Laurentino et al, 2012;Silva et al, 2015;Vechin et al, 2015;Sousa et al, 2017) and localized muscle endurance (LME) (Kacin & Strazar, 2011;Gil et al, 2017;Sousa et al, 2017). In addition, it has been used to increase functional capacity (Araujo et al, 2015) and isometric force (Chaves et al, 2016) and has been shown to be safe in relation to hemodynamics (Araújo et al, 2014;Neto et al, 2015;2016a;2016b;Vilaça-Alves et al, 2016;Neto et al, 2017a;2017b).…”

“…In recent years, this method of ST has gained more notoriety in the scientific community; thus, several studies have been developed with the aim of understanding all of the procedures inherent to its application, with respect to safety, efficacy and adherence. As an example, one can observe the intensity of the load used (Suga et al, 2010), the cuff size (Rossow et al, 2012), the pressure used (Sumide, Sakuraba, Sawaki, Ohmura, & Tamura, 2009) and the form of application of BFR (continuous or intermittent) (Suga et al, 2012;Yasuda, Loenneke, Ogasawara, & Abe, 2013;Fitschen et al, 2014;Brandner, Kidgell, & Warmington, 2015;Neto et al, 2016a;2017b;2018). Among the studies that evaluated the application of BFR, only one study analyzed muscle strength and hypertrophy (Fitschen et al, 2014); however, this study used only one exercise with unilateral and single-joint execution.…”

Are there differences in auscultatory pulse in total blood flow restriction between positions, limbs and body segments?

“…Scientific evidence has shown the importance of low-load training with BFR in increasing muscle strength 3,7 , muscle hypertrophy 3,7 , localized muscle resistance 8 and functional capacity 9 . In addition, it has been demonstrated that this method is safe in relation to hemodynamics 10,11 . However, the use of this technique when using high intensities does not seem to be effective in increasing muscle strength and mass 12 and in the acute performance of muscle strength immediately after exercise 13 .…”

“…In this regard, studies have been developed to improve the application of this training method, analyzing factors such as cuff size 14 , pressure used 15 and form of BFR application (continuous or intermittent) 10,16 . Additionally, a safe and effective form, considered to be the good alternative for evaluating the BFR point and prescribing the pressure to be used in training, is the technique proposed in Laurentino et al 3 .…”