The purpose of this study was to analyze systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and the heart rate (HR) before, during and after training at moderate intensity (MI, 50%-1RM) and at low intensity with blood flow restriction (LIBFR). In a randomized controlled trial study, 14 subjects (average age 45±9,9 years) performed one of the exercise protocols during two separate visits to the laboratory. SBP, DBP and HR measurements were collected prior to the start of the set and 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after knee extension exercises. Repeated measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to identify significant variables (2 × 5; group × time). The results demonstrated a significant reduction in SBP in the LIBFR group. These results provide evidence that strength training performed acutely alters hemodynamic variables. However, training with blood flow restriction is more efficient in reducing blood pressure in hypertensive individuals than training with moderate intensity.

Water-based exercise and low-intensity exercise in combination with blood flow restriction (BFR) are two methods that have independently been shown to improve muscle strength in those of advancing age. The objective of this study was to assess the long-term effect of water-based exercise in combination with BFR on maximum dynamic strength and functional capacity in post-menopausal women. Twenty-eight women underwent an 8-week water-based exercise program. The participants were randomly allocated to one of the three groups: (a) water exercise only, (b) water exercise + BFR, or (c) a non-exercise control group. Functional capacity (chair stand test, timed up and go test, gait speed, and dynamic balance) and strength testing were tested before and after the 8-week aquatic exercise program. The main findings were as follows: (1) water-based exercise in combination with BFR significantly increased the lower limb maximum strength which was not observed with water-based exercise alone and (2) water-based exercise, regardless of the application of BFR, increased functional performance measured by the timed up and go test over a control group. Although we used a healthy population in the current study, these findings may have important implications for those who may be contraindicated to using traditional resistance exercise. Future research should explore this promising modality in these clinical populations.

Physiological and perceptual responses to aerobic exercise with and without blood flow restriction. J Strength Cond Res 35(9): 2479-2485, 2021-Although previous studies have demonstrated the potential benefits of aerobic exercise (AE) with blood flow restriction (BFR), these findings have been limited by the approaches used to determine the occlusive pressure. In addition, the physiological and perceptual responses of AE with BFR compared to high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) remain unclear. Thus, we investigated the physiological and perceptual responses to AE with and without BFR, and HIIE. Twenty-two men were randomly assigned to 4 experimental conditions: AE (40% of maximal oxygen consumption [V _ O2peak]), AE with 50% of BFR (AE-BFR: 40% VV _ O2peak), HIIE (80% V _ O2peak), and a no exercise control condition (CON: 50% of BFR). Each exercise bout lasted 18 minutes, during which oxygen consumption (V _ O2), heart rate (HR), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured at rest and at every 3 minutes during exercise. Ratings of discomfort before and after each trial. The HIIE condition induced the greatest increases in V _ O2 and HR (p , 0.05), whereas AE-BFR was significantly (p , 0.05) greater than AE and CON. HIIE and AE-BFR also elicited the greatest (p , 0.05), but similar (p . 0.05), increases in RPE during exercise, although AE-BFR was significantly greater than HIIE immediately after exercise (p , 0.05). AE-BFR and HIIE also induced similar levels of discomfort after exercise (p . 0.05). In conclusion, HIIE induced the greatest increases in V _ O2 and HR, although the perceptual responses were essentially the same compared with AE-BFR. However, albeit inferior to HIIE, V _ O2 was greater during AE-BFR compared with AE, indicating that this training method may be used to replace HIIE and still significantly elevate V _ O2.

This study compared the acute effects of resistance exercise with and without blood flow restriction (BFR) on basketball players' mood states. A total of 11 male basketball players (M age = 19.9, SD = 2.8 years; M height = 180.8, SD = 7.8 cm; M weight = 71.1, SD = 9.1 kg; M body mass index = 22.1, SD = 1.9 kg/m) were randomly assigned to two experimental conditions: (a) low-load resistance exercise with BFR (LLRE + BFR) and high-load resistance exercise (HLRE) without BFR. We measured mood state with the Brunel Mood Scale before and after each session. There was a significant interaction effect such that there was increased fatigue over time with LLRE + BFR ( p = .001, Δ% = 169.2). Regarding total mood disorder, there were significant pre and postexercise differences between athletes exposed to both the LLRE + BFR and HLRE conditions ( p = .048) and a decharacterization of the iceberg mood profile in the post-training LLRE + BFR condition. LLRE + BFR, compared to HLRE, promoted an acute negative effect on mood state, decharacterization of the iceberg profile, total mood disturbance, and increased participant fatigue, suggesting that this method of strength training should be avoided before sports competitions.