Hypoalgesic effects of a blood flow restriction technique at moderate intensity with or without motor imagery: a single-blind randomized controlled trial

Varangot‐Reille, Clovis; Cuenca‐Martínez, Ferrán; Suso‐Martí, Luis; Rouquette, Amélie; Hamon, Julie; Araldi, Maxime; Asís-Fernández, Francisco de; Herranz‐Gómez, Aida

doi:10.1080/08990220.2021.1987876

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 42 publications

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“…This return to baseline is consistent with previous literature that EIH typically only lasts 30–45 min (Naugle et al., 2012 ) and could be mediated by the transient production of endogenous opioids, which are not different from baseline at 24 h post‐exercise (Hughes & Patterson, 2020 ). We also failed to detect any systemic hypoalgesic response in non‐exercised body parts (contralateral quadricep, ipsilateral bicep and contralateral trapezius), which is in contrast to recent literature utilising BFR (Hughes & Patterson, 2020 ; Song et al., 2022 , 2021b ), but is in agreement with other studies which have employed a similar single‐blinded approach (Karanasios et al., 2022 ; Varangot‐Reille et al., 2022 ). The reason for the lack of systemic EIH is unclear (in comparison to previous findings), but in general may be due to the employment of a single, unilateral, dynamic resistance exercise protocol, which may not be a sufficient amount of exercising muscle mass and/or exercise volume to trigger systemic EIH in all participants.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Acute hypoalgesic, neurophysiological and perceptual responses to low‐load blood flow restriction exercise and high‐load resistance exercise

Norbury,

Grant,

Woodhead

et al. 2024

Experimental Physiology

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This study compared the acute hypoalgesic and neurophysiological responses to low‐load resistance exercise with and without blood flow restriction (BFR), and free‐flow, high‐load exercise. Participants performed four experimental conditions where they completed baseline measures of pain pressure threshold (PPT), maximum voluntary force (MVF) with peripheral nerve stimulation to determine central and peripheral fatigue. Corticospinal excitability (CSE), corticospinal inhibition and short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) were estimated with transcranial magnetic stimulation. Participants then performed low‐load leg press exercise at 30% of one‐repetition maximum (LL); low‐load leg press with BFR at 40% (BFR40) or 80% (BFR80) of limb occlusion pressure; or high‐load leg press of four sets of 10 repetitions at 70% one‐repetition maximum (HL). Measurements were repeated at 5, 45 min and 24 h post‐exercise. There were no differences in CSE or SICI between conditions (all P > 0.05); however, corticospinal inhibition was reduced to a greater extent (11%–14%) in all low‐load conditions compared to HL (P < 0.005). PPTs were 12%–16% greater at 5 min post‐exercise in BFR40, BFR80 and HL compared to LL (P ≤ 0.016). Neuromuscular fatigue displayed no clear difference in the magnitude or time course between conditions (all P > 0.05). In summary, low‐load BFR resistance exercise does not induce different acute neurophysiological responses to low‐load, free‐flow exercise but it does promote a greater degree of hypoalgesia and reduces corticospinal inhibition more than high‐load exercise, making it a useful rehabilitation tool. The changes in neurophysiology following exercise were not related to changes in PPT.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Acute hypoalgesic, neurophysiological and perceptual responses to low‐load blood flow restriction exercise and high‐load resistance exercise

Norbury,

Grant,

Woodhead

et al. 2024

Experimental Physiology

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Low-Intensity Blood Flow Restriction Exercises Modulate Pain Sensitivity in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review

Karanasios

Lignos

Kouvaras³

et al. 2023

Healthcare

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Low-intensity exercise with blood flow restriction (LIE-BFR) has been proposed as an effective intervention to induce hypoalgesia in both healthy individuals and patients with knee pain. Nevertheless, there is no systematic review reporting the effect of this method on pain threshold. We aimed to evaluate the following: (i) the effect of LIE-BFR on pain threshold compared to other interventions in patients or healthy individuals; and (ii) how different types of applications may influence hypoalgesic response. We included randomized controlled trials assessing the effectiveness of LIE-BFR alone or as an additive intervention compared with controls or other interventions. Pain threshold was the outcome measure. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro score. Six studies with 189 healthy adults were included. Five studies were rated with ‘moderate’ and ‘high’ methodological quality. Due to substantial clinical heterogeneity, quantitative synthesis could not be performed. All studies used pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) to assess pain sensitivity. LIE-BFR resulted in significant increases in PPTs compared to conventional exercise at local and remote sites 5 min post-intervention. Higher-pressure BFR results in greater exercise-induced hypoalgesia compared to lower pressure, while exercise to failure produces a similar reduction in pain sensitivity with or without BFR. Based on our findings, LIE-BFR can be an effective intervention to increase pain threshold; however, the effect depends on the exercise methodology. Further research is necessary to investigate the effectiveness of this method in reducing pain sensitivity in patients with pain symptomatology.

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Hypoalgesic effects of a blood flow restriction technique at moderate intensity with or without motor imagery: a single-blind randomized controlled trial

Cited by 2 publications

References 42 publications

Acute hypoalgesic, neurophysiological and perceptual responses to low‐load blood flow restriction exercise and high‐load resistance exercise

Acute hypoalgesic, neurophysiological and perceptual responses to low‐load blood flow restriction exercise and high‐load resistance exercise

Low-Intensity Blood Flow Restriction Exercises Modulate Pain Sensitivity in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review

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