Effects of Blood Flow Restriction on Leukocyte Profile and Muscle Damage

Abstract

Muscle damage affects the blood leukocyte profile. Resistance exercise (RE) with blood flow restriction (BFR) attenuates exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Purpose To evaluate muscle damage and the leukocyte profile in response to RE+BFR and to compare with high intensity RE. Methods Twenty volunteers performed the RE in the leg press apparatus in the following groups: RE80, 80% of 1RM (3 × until concentric muscle failure); RE40+BFR, 40% of 1RM with BFR (same total work of RE80 group). The BFR applied was 80% of the total occlusion pressure. Results There were no differences in the blood leukocyte profile among groups despite the lower exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) in the RE40+BFR group (RE80: 10.07 ± 2.67 vs. RE40+BFR: 8.25 ± 0.96; cell × 10 3 /mm 3 ). Both groups showed leukocytosis (RE80: 7.59 ± 1.48 vs. 10.07 ± 2.67 and RE40+BFR: 6.57 ± 1.50 vs. 8.25 ± 0.96; cell × 10 3 /mm 3 ) and lymphocytosis (RE80: 2.48 ± 0.83 vs. 3.65 ± 1.31 and RE40+BFR: 2.22 ± 0.23 vs. 3.03 ± 0.65; cell × 10 3 /mm 3 ) immediately after exercise. Leukocytosis (ES 1.12 vs. ES 1.33) and lymphocytosis (ES 1.11 vs. ES 1.76) was greater in the RE40+BFR group. Conclusion RE associated with BFR was accompanied by a greater leukocytosis and lymphocytosis immediately after exercise, with no difference in neutrophils. This leukocyte blood profile may be related to less muscle damage, as well as faster muscle recovery after 24 and 48 h post-exercise.

Exercise adherence‐related perceptual responses to low‐load blood flow restriction resistance exercise in young adults: A pilot study

“…Moreover, muscle hypertrophy and strength gain induced by low‐load BFR‐RE is comparable to those induced by high‐load NBFR‐RE (Centner et al, 2019 ; Lixandrão et al, 2018 ). Furthermore, low‐load BFR‐RE can be performed more frequently than high‐load RE owing to lower muscle damage following RE (Dos Santos et al, 2020 ; Takarada et al, 2000 ); thus, BFR‐RE‐induced muscle adaptation can be obtained early within a short‐term (e.g., 2 weeks) because of increased training frequency throughout this period (Abe et al, 2005 ). Therefore, low‐load BFR‐RE is now recognized as a beneficial strategy to replace high‐load RE.…”

Effect of blood flow restriction with low‐load exercise on muscle damage in healthy adults: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

“…Although some studies have shown that BFR in combination with low‐load exercise does not cause muscle damage (Dos Santos et al, 2020; Loenneke et al, 2014; Neto et al, 2018; Nielsen et al, 2017), conflicting results related to the effects of LL‐BFR on muscle damage were also reported (Alvarez et al, 2020; Sieljacks et al, 2016). One study indicated that LL‐BFR can induce significant muscle damage, causing variations in the indirect marker levels of muscle damage, such as increased inflammation, prolonged swelling, increased muscle soreness, and increased serum protein concentrations, decreased muscle strength and decreased ROM (Sieljacks et al, 2016).…”