Effect of different types of resistance exercise on arterial compliance and calf blood flow

Abstract

Low-intensity blood flow restricted (LI-BFR) resistance training has been shown to produce comparable increases in muscle hypertrophy to traditional high-intensity (HI) resistance training. However, a comparison of the acute vascular responses between the two types of exercise has not been made. The purpose of this study is to compare the acute vascular responses of HI, low-intensity (LI), and LI-BFR resistance exercise. Using a randomized, cross-over design, 11 young (28 ± 5 years) males completed three acute resistance exercise bouts (HI, LI and LI-BFR). Before (Pre), and starting at 15- and 45-min after each exercise bout, large (LAEI) and small (SAEI) artery compliance and calf blood flow were assessed. Calf blood flow was normalized per unit pressure as calf vascular conductance (CVC). Repeated measures (condition × time) ANOVA revealed a main time effect for LAEI and a main condition effect for SAEI. LAEI increased following exercise but returned to baseline at 45-min post. SAEI was greater during the HI condition compared to the LI or LI-BFR conditions. There was a significant condition × time interaction for CVC. CVC was elevated at 15- and 45-min post during the HI condition and at 15-min following the LI condition. CVC was not altered following the LI-BFR condition. These results suggest that HI, LI, and LI-BFR resistance exercise cause similar acute increases in large artery compliance but HI causes greater increases in small artery compliance and calf vascular conductance than LI or LI-BFR resistance exercise.

Exercise and Blood Flow Restriction

“…Furthermore, there was a trend in the low intensity with BFR session (18% increase from baseline) toward an increased arterial compliance of the large arteries. Similarly, 2 studies by Fahs et al (21,22) examined acute and longitudinal responses in large and small arterial compliance and calf blood flow in recreationally active and healthy young men. In the first acute study (21), 3 bouts of resistance exercise were compared that included high intensity (70% of 1RM; 3 sets of 10 repetitions; 1--minute rest intervals between sets); and low intensity with and without BFR (20% of 1RM; first set 30 repetitions followed by 3 sets of 15 repetitions; 30--second rest between sets); the exercises performed in succession were the supine leg press, seated knee flexion, seated knee extension, seated plantar flexion.…”

Effects of low-intensity concentric and eccentric exercise combined with blood flow restriction on indices of exercise-induced muscle damage

“…Subjects performed four sets of bicep curls (using dumbbells) with BFR with the fi rst set consisting of 30 repetitions and the next three sets consisting of 15 repetitions each for a total of 75 repetitions [15,16]. Subjects rested for 30 s between each set.…”

“…The highest value of soreness from these three methods for each subject was used for muscle soreness analysis. Borg's Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), which is a scale (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) to measure subjective feelings of exertion and fatigue, was recorded immediately after each set of the exercise bout [19].…”

Potential exercise countermeasures to attenuate skeletal muscle deterioration in space

“…24 Interestingly, although the BFR is limited to the limbs, favorable adaptations have also been observed the trunk, which is proximal to the BFR stimulus. 25 A variety of devices have been used to restrict blood flow during exercise including elastic knee wraps, 26 elastic belts with a pneumatic bag inside, 27 nylon pneumatic cuffs, 28 or a traditional nylon blood pressure cuff 29 . A recent Meta-Analysis of BFR training suggests that this type of training produces skeletal muscle adaptation similar to that observed with higher load (>60% concentric 1RM) resistance exercise, 30 however the exact mechanisms behind the benefits observed with this mode of training are largely unknown 31 .…”