Exercise with blood flow restriction improves muscle strength and mass while preserving the vascular and microvascular function and structure of older adults

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Changes in muscle mass, strength, vascular function, oxidative stress, and inflammatory biomarkers were compared in older adults after resistance training (RT) performed with low-intensity without blood flow restriction (RT-CON); low-intensity with BFR (RT-BFR); and high-intensity without BFR (RT-HI). METHODS: Thirty-two untrained individuals (72±7 y) performed a 12-week RT after being randomized into three groups: RT-CON –30% of 1 repetition maximum (RM); RT-BFR –30% of 1RM and mild BFR (50% of arterial occlusion pressure); RT-HI –70% of 1 RM. RESULTS: Improvements in handgrip strength were similar in RT-BFR (17%) and RT-HI (16%) vs. RT-CON (–0.1% ), but increases in muscle mass (6% vs. 2% and –1%) and IGF-1 (2% vs. –0.1% and –1.5%) were greater (p < 0.05) in RT-BFR vs. RT-HI and RT-CON. Changes in vascular function, morphology, inflammation, and oxidative stress were similar between groups, except for time to reach maximum red blood cell velocity which showed a greater reduction (p < 0.05) in RT-BFR (–55%) vs. RT-HI (–11%) and RT-CON (–4% ). CONCLUSION: RT with low intensity and mild BFR improved muscle strength and mass in older individuals while preserving vascular function. This modality should be considered an adjuvant strategy to improve muscle function in older individuals with poor tolerance to high loads.

Effects of Low-Load Blood Flow Restriction Training on Muscle Anabolism Biomarkers and Thrombotic Biomarkers Compared with Traditional Training in Healthy Adults Older Than 60 Years: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The studies aggregated 256 healthy older adults (mean (min–max) age 68 (62–71) years, 44.53% female) ( Table 1 ). Ten studies evaluated the effects of LL-BFRT versus traditional LL training [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 ], and six studies assessed the effects of LL-BFRT versus a passive control [ 46 , 49 , 52 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. Only 2 studies performed an aerobic LL-BFRT (45% heart rate reserve) [ 46 , 54 ], and 11 studies performed a resistance LL-BFRT (20–45% one-repetition maximum) [ 45 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 55 , 56 , 57 ].…”

“…Ten studies evaluated the effects of LL-BFRT versus traditional LL training [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 ], and six studies assessed the effects of LL-BFRT versus a passive control [ 46 , 49 , 52 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. Only 2 studies performed an aerobic LL-BFRT (45% heart rate reserve) [ 46 , 54 ], and 11 studies performed a resistance LL-BFRT (20–45% one-repetition maximum) [ 45 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. The employed cuff pressures varied widely (59 mmHg [ 49 , 52 ] to 270 mm Hg [ 48 , 50 , 56 ]), while cuff widths ranged from 3 cm [ 48 , 50 ] to 13 cm [ 51 ], with 5 cm being the most widely used [ 46 , 49 , 52 , 54 , 55 , 56 ].…”

“…The employed cuff pressures varied widely (59 mmHg [ 49 , 52 ] to 270 mm Hg [ 48 , 50 , 56 ]), while cuff widths ranged from 3 cm [ 48 , 50 ] to 13 cm [ 51 ], with 5 cm being the most widely used [ 46 , 49 , 52 , 54 , 55 , 56 ]. Of the nine studies that evaluated biomarkers related to muscle anabolism [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 49 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 57 ], four evaluated GH [ 45 , 47 , 51 , 54 ], four evaluated IGF-1 [ 45 , 51 , 53 , 57 ], two evaluated CAF and P3NP [ 46 , 49 ], and one evaluated myostatin and follistatin [ 52 ] concentrations. Among the studies that evaluated anabolic biomarkers, four assessed them in the short term (≤30 min post-training session) [ 45 , 47 , 51 , 54 ], and four assessed them in the medium term (≥6 weeks, measurements performed at least 48 h after the last training session) [ 46 , 49 , 52 , 53 ].…”

Acute effect of low-load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction on oxidative stress biomarkers: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…After removing the duplicates, the remaining articles were submitted to a title and abstract analysis and 18 articles were considered potentially eligible. Eight were subsequently excluded due to the following reasons: not using oxidative stress biomarkers [28,29], using aerobic exercise [30,31], the subjects had chronic kidney disease [32], overweight [33], received protein supplementation [34], or did not include a LLRE (�50% of 1RM) or HLRE (�70% of 1RM) group [35]. Three articles fulfilling the inclusion criteria were found after screening the reference list of the included studies [36][37][38].…”

The Effect of Low Intensity Resistance Training with Blood Flow Restriction on Fall Resistance in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis

“… Meta-analysis of lower limb muscle strength [ 10 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Figure Notes: A, LIRT + BFR vs. daily exercise.…”