Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Blood Perfusion and Work Ability of Muscles in Elite Para-alpine Skiers

Abstract

Purpose The effects of short-term blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise on muscle blood flow perfusion and performance during high-intensity exercise were determined in elite para-alpine standing skiers to assess whether this would be an effective training regimen for elite athletes with disabilities. Methods Nine national-level para-alpine standing skiers (mean age, 20.67 ± 1.34 yr; four women) were recruited. Nondominant lower limbs were trained with BFR (eight in final analyses), and dominant lower limbs were trained without BFR (seven in final analyses). The 2-wk protocol included high-load resistance, local muscle endurance (circuit resistance training), and aerobic endurance (stationary cycling) training performed 4 times a week, with BFR during local muscle endurance and aerobic endurance sessions. Muscle strength was measured by maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) in the knee extensors; microcirculatory blood perfusion (MBP), by laser Doppler blood flow; and muscle strength and endurance, by the total amount of work (TW) performed during high-intensity centrifugal and concentric contractions. Results BFR significantly increased absolute and relative MVIC ( P < 0.001, P = 0.001), MBP ( P = 0.011, P = 0.008), and TW ( P = 0.006, P = 0.007) from pretraining values, whereas only absolute MVIC increased without BFR ( P = 0.047). However, the MVIC increase with BFR exercise (35.88 ± 14.83 N·m) was significantly greater ( P = 0.040) than without BFR exercise (16.71 ± 17.79 N·m). Conclusions Short-term BFR exercise significantly increased strength endurance, muscle strength, and MBP in national-level para-alpine standing skiers. Our study provides new evidence that BFR exercise can improve local muscle blood perfusion during high-intensity exercise and informs BFR exercise strategies for athletes with disabilities.

Effects of 4-Week Low-Load Resistance Training with Blood Flow Restriction on Muscle Strength and Left Ventricular Function in Young Swimmers: A Pilot Randomized Trial

“…Similarly, it was reported that two weeks of BFR training (×2/day, 6 days/wk) at 20% of 1RM improved the squat 1RM in young individuals ( Abe et al, 2005 ), which concurs with the results of the present study. In support of the above, a recent study by Geng et al (2022) reported improved muscle strength in national-level para-alpine standing skiers after two weeks of resistance training combined with BFR. Although the exact molecular mechanisms driving the hypertrophic adaptations following LL-BFR are unknown at present, a recent study by Davids and colleagues (2021) showed that this form of resistance training enhanced muscular responses without the need for high mechanical loads likely through stimulating similar cellular and molecular pathways to HL-RT.…”

Potential Moderators of the Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Muscle Strength and Hypertrophy: A Meta-analysis Based on a Comparison with High-Load Resistance Training

“…From a practical standpoint, BFR-RT could be a beneficial supplemental training protocol for trained population. It has been demonstrated that the combination of BFR- and HL-RT was more beneficial for the increase of muscle strength [ 97 ]. Thus, healthy individuals or athletes are likely to maximize their training adaptations by combining these two training methods [ 4 , 98 ].…”

Potential Moderators of the Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Muscle Strength and Hypertrophy: A Meta-Analysis Based on a Comparison with High-Load Resistance Training

“…From a practical standpoint, BFR-RT could be a bene cial supplemental training protocol for trained population. It has been demonstrated that the combination of BFR-and HL-RT was more bene cial for the increase of muscle strength [97]. Thus, healthy individuals or athletes are likely to maximize their training adaptations by combining these two training methods [4,98].…”