Acute impact of blood flow restriction on strength-endurance performance during the bench press exercise

Abstract

The main goal of the present study was to evaluate the acute effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) at 70% of full arterial occlusion pressure on strength-endurance performance during the bench press exercise. The study included 14 strength-trained male subjects (age = 25.6 ± 4.1 years; body mass = 81.7 ± 10.8 kg; bench press 1 repetition maximum (1RM) = 130.0 ± 22.1 kg), experienced in resistance training (3.9 ± 2.4 years). During the experimental sessions in a randomized crossover design, the subjects performed three sets of the bench press at 80% 1RM performed to failure with two different conditions: without BFR (CON); and with BFR (BFR). Friedman’s test showed significant differences between BFR and CON conditions for the number of repetitions performed (p < 0.001); for peak bar velocity (p < 0.001) and for mean bar velocity (p < 0.001). The pairwise comparisons showed a significant decrease for peak bar velocity and mean bar velocity in individual Set 1 for BFR when compared to CON conditions (p = 0.01 for both). The two-way repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant main effect for the time under tension (p = 0.02). A post-hoc comparisons for the main effect showed a significant increase in time under tension for BFR when compared to CON (p = 0.02). The results of the presented study indicate that BFR used during strength-endurance exercise generally does not decrease the level of endurance performance, while it causes a drop in bar velocity.

Analysis of Time Under Tension in Bench Press Exercise in Recreationally Trained Individuals: A Systematic Review

“…The descriptive characteristics of the included studies are presented in Table 1. Most of the included studies (n 5 9, 69%) are from Poland (5,6,(10)(11)(12)(33)(34)(35)37). The number of participants ranged from 10 to 42 individuals.…”

“…The most used instrument to analyze TUT was the linear position transducer (5,(10)(11)(12)31,37). The other instruments used were Kinovea software (27,28), a digital camera (6,33), and a digital stopwatch (23).…”

“…The other instruments used were Kinovea software (27,28), a digital camera (6,33), and a digital stopwatch (23). The oldest study (28) was performed in 2016, and the most recent (5,10,31) in 2021, with a 5-year interval between them.…”

“…Table 2 presents the instrument used to collect and analyze TUT, the testing protocol (number of sets, repetitions, intervals, and methods), load, cadence, and conclusion of each selected study. The most used instrument to analyze TUT was the linear position transducer (5,10–12,31,37). The other instruments used were Kinovea software (27,28), a digital camera (6,33), and a digital stopwatch (23).…”

“…Wilk et al (37) and Gepfert et al (5) analyzed the TUT with and without blood flow restriction during exercise. Both studies used the highest possible velocity of movement execution, but Wilk et al (37) applied 60% of 1RM and analyzed TUT without blood flow restriction, with 100 and 150% arterial occlusion pressure.…”