Increase in maximal oxygen uptake following 2-week walk training with blood flow occlusion in athletes

Abstract

Walk training with blood flow occlusion (OCC-walk) leads to muscle hypertrophy; however, cardiorespiratory endurance in response to OCC-walk is unknown. Ischemia enhances the adaptation to endurance training such as increased maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂(max)) and muscle glycogen content. Thus, we investigated the effects of an OCC-walk on cardiorespiratory endurance, anaerobic power, and muscle strength in elite athletes. College basketball players participated in walk training with (n = 7) and without (n = 5) blood flow occlusion. Five sets of a 3-min walk (4-6 km/h at 5% grade) and a 1-min rest between the walks were performed twice a day, 6 days a week for 2 weeks. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures (groups x time) was utilized (P < 0.05). Interactions were found in VO₂(max) (P = 0.011) and maximal minute ventilation (VE(max); P = 0.019). VO₂(max) (11.6%) and VE(max) (10.6%) were increased following the OCC-walk. For the cardiovascular adaptations of the OCC-walk, hemodynamic parameters such as stroke volume (SV) and heart rate (HR) at rest and during OCC-walk were compared between the first and the last OCC-walk sessions. Although no change in hemodynamics was found at rest, during the last OCC-walk session SV was increased in all five sets (21.4%) and HR was decreased in the third (12.3%) and fifth (15.0%) sets. With anaerobic power an interaction was found in anaerobic capacity (P = 0.038) but not in peak power. Anaerobic capacity (2.5%) was increased following the OCC-walk. No interaction was found in muscle strength. In conclusion, the 2-week OCC-walk significantly increases VO₂(max) and VE(max) in athletes. The OCC-walk training might be used in the rehabilitation for athletes who intend to maintain or improve endurance.

Exercise and Blood Flow Restriction

“…Similarly, Park et al (72) found that in a group of Korean collegiate basketball players walking (4-6 km$h21 at a 5% grade each set; total of 5 sets for 3 minutes each; 1--minute rest intervals between sets) with BFR (160-220 mm Hg; 110--mm cuff width) twice daily (6 sessions per week for 2 weeks) increased VO2max (maximal graded exercise test via a cycle ergometer) and maximal minute ventilation, 11.6 and 10.6% respectively. Conversely, a work--matched control group without BFR did not experience improvements in these variables.…”

“…Conversely, a work--matched control group without BFR did not experience improvements in these variables. These studies (1,72) suggest that the addition of BFR to common exercise modes (cycling, walking) increases cardiorespiratory endurance and with perhaps shorter duration per session vs. traditional longer duration prescriptive approaches.…”

“…The BFR resistance exercise might be performed 2-3 times weekly for the same muscles or muscle groups. However, higher frequencies (up to twice daily) might be instituted depending on individual training status and goals; volume or duration of BFR exercise; and exercise modality (5,72). For example, slow walking in conjunction with BFR might be performed twice daily (72), whereas exhaustive bilateral knee extensions might be performed 2 or 3 times weekly (55).…”

“…However, higher frequencies (up to twice daily) might be instituted depending on individual training status and goals; volume or duration of BFR exercise; and exercise modality (5,72). For example, slow walking in conjunction with BFR might be performed twice daily (72), whereas exhaustive bilateral knee extensions might be performed 2 or 3 times weekly (55). One approach for resistance exercise is to group BFR sets into "blocks" in which pressure is constant throughout the duration of each block to closely monitor "time under occlusion" with release of pressure between blocks to allow for reperfusion.…”

The Influence of Applied Blood Flow Restriction Cuffs on Kinematics of Submaximal Sprinting

“…Several studies revealed that low-load resistance training with BFR could elicit similar muscle hypertrophy and strength gains as traditional high-load resistance training [4][5][6]. It has also been reported that the BFR stimulus facilitates low-intensity aerobic exercise-induced muscle adaptations [7][8][9]. In addition, short-term low-intensity interval training with BFR improves both maximal oxygen uptake and muscular strength [10].…”