Beneficial Effects of Ischemic Preconditioning in Resistance Exercise Fade Over Time

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on resistance exercise performance in upper limbs. After 12-RM load determination, 21 men attended 4 trials separated by 3 days in a randomized crossover design: IPC (4×5-min occlusion 220 mmHg/reperfusion 0 mmHg) in arms and in thighs, and SHAM (equal to the IPC protocol but "occlusion" at 20 mmHg) in arms and in thighs. 8 min following the respective interventions, the subjects performed one set of resistance exercise in elbow flexion with the 12-RM load until concentric failure. The number of repetitions increased for both protocols in arm (IPC=14.1±2.5 and SHAM=14.4±3.0) and in thigh (IPC=14.3±2.2 and SHAM=13.4±1.7). However, the number of repetitions tended to decrease over the 4 trials and no more effect was found in the fourth trial. Therefore, IPC or SHAM may enhance performance in resistance exercise for upper limbs, but this effect apparently fades over time.

Pré-condicionamento isquêmico e desempenho: há viabilidade/racionalidade na sua aplicação?

“…Portanto, análises mais holísticas 28,30 e específicas ao subtipo de modalidade [31][32][33][34][35] são desejáveis. Outro ponto ressaltado em alguns estudos é que o efeito do IPC poderia ter base motivacional 18,20 , visto que alguns deles mostram que a aplicação da manobra de IPC repetidas vezes minimiza o desempenho físico 19,36 ao longo do tempo. O efeito placebo, altamente reconhecido em estudos sobre o desempenho humano 37 , portanto, precisa ser controlado e considerado na interpretação e tomada de decisão sobre qualquer estratégia 19,25 .…”

Ischemic preconditioning: Potential impact on exercise performance and underlying mechanisms

“…Marocolo et al (2016a) also reported that IPC and SHAM conditions resulted in significantly greater repetitions versus the control condition on the first and second sets, but not on the third set during leg extension at a 12 RM load 24) . Furthermore, the authors reported that the number of repetitions during elbow flexion exercise significantly increased in the early sets, but they tended to decrease over four trials 25) . These two studies suggest that IPC has minor beneficial effects, but these apparently fade over time and may possibly have a placebo effect because, compared with control (CON), the SHAM condition also improved repetitions along with IPC 24,25) .…”

“…Furthermore, the authors reported that the number of repetitions during elbow flexion exercise significantly increased in the early sets, but they tended to decrease over four trials 25) . These two studies suggest that IPC has minor beneficial effects, but these apparently fade over time and may possibly have a placebo effect because, compared with control (CON), the SHAM condition also improved repetitions along with IPC 24,25) . Beaven et al (2012) compared the early (immediate) and late (24 h later) effects of IPC on power production, and they found that IPC showed beneficial effects in both periods 8) .…”

“…As mentioned previously, the results are equivocal. Several studies found an improvement in exercise performance, i.e., time to failure (time trial performance), peak power output, and repetitions, to name a few, after IPC on the primary or a part of the engaged limbs 4,8,[10][11][12][13][18][19][20][21]26) , whereas other studies did not show any beneficial effects [5][6][7]9,10,[14][15][16][17]22,24,25) . A few studies investigated the effects of remote IPC on exercise performance.…”

Efeito de jogo de futsal sobre o desempenho intermitente de alta intensidade em futebolistas amadoras

“…Com o número de estágios realizados, calculamos a distância total percorrida para cada futebolista. Com o propósito de evitar quaisquer efeitos placebo ou nocebo, comuns em estudos com testes de desempenho físico 23,24 as jogadoras não foram informadas sobre o real objetivo do presente trabalho. Apenas foi ressaltado que o objetivo era realizar o melhor desempenho possível nos testes.…”