Session rating of perceived exertion following resistance exercise with blood flow restriction

Abstract

Session ratings of perceived exertion (SRPE) provide a valid and reliable indicator of resistance exercise session intensity. However, there is a lack of studies on the effects of resistance exercise with blood flow restriction (BFR) on SRPE. Thus, the aim of this study is to compare the effects of resistance exercise at high intensity versus low intensity with BFR on internal training load measured by SRPE. Thirteen young (22.2 ± 3.8 years) resistance-trained men (training experience 3.2 ± 2.4 years) participated in the study protocol. After determining one maximum repetition (1-RM), the subjects were assigned to two groups in a counterbalanced design (i) high-intensity exercise (HIE, performed one training session at 80% of 1-RM) and (ii) low intensity with BFR (BFR, performed an exercise session at 50% of 1-RM with BFR). During each session, subjects performed three sets of unilateral elbow flexion leading to concentric failure with a 1-min rest interval between sets. A cuff around the arm, inflated at 110 mmHg, was used continuously for BFR. The SRPE was reported 30 min after the end of the session. The low intensity with BFR showed lower total work (197.13 ± 63.49 versus 300.92 ± 71.81 kg; P = 0.002) and higher SRPE (9 versus 6; P = 0.007) than high-intensity resistance exercise. The present results indicate that BFR is an important factor to increase internal training load. Future studies should investigate the physiological stress imposed by different training methods rather than just quantify the external training load such as intensity or volume.

Blood flow restriction attenuates eccentric exercise‐induced muscle damage without perceptual and cardiovascular overload

“…increases in serum growth hormone, adrenaline, noradrenaline, insulin‐like growth factor, testosterone and cortisol concentrations) (Takano et al ., ; Kon et al ., ; Neto et al ., ) with BFR. It has been suggested that this accumulation of metabolic subproducts stimulates type IV fibres (nociceptors, pain receptors), leading to enhanced percepted pain (Spranger et al ., ; Vieira et al ., ). Therefore, as shown in our results and also in other studies (Rossow et al ., ; Fitschen et al ., ; Vieira et al ., ), resistance exercise with BFR increases the RPP.…”

“…It has been suggested that this accumulation of metabolic subproducts stimulates type IV fibres (nociceptors, pain receptors), leading to enhanced percepted pain (Spranger et al ., ; Vieira et al ., ). Therefore, as shown in our results and also in other studies (Rossow et al ., ; Fitschen et al ., ; Vieira et al ., ), resistance exercise with BFR increases the RPP.…”

Unilateral bicep curl hemodynamics: Low‐pressure continuous vs high‐pressure intermittent blood flow restriction

“…This low‐pressure continuous restriction eliminates the likelihood of complete arterial occlusion and, therefore, any possibility of thrombus formation (Rossow et al., ; Loenneke et al., ). Nerve conduction velocity is likely unaffected by low‐pressure BFR (Mittal et al., ), and while tissue oxygen saturation is reduced (Downs et al., ), exercise is often reported to be more tolerable (Hollander et al., ; Loenneke et al., ; Vieira et al., ). Taken together with previous studies, in comparison with high‐pressure BFR exercise a low‐pressure continuous restriction seems preferential when using relatively wide cuffs like those of the present study given the reduced hemodynamic stress, but should not be expected to provide any lesser beneficial adaptations to muscle strength and size when undertaken across a training period (Wernbom et al., ).…”

Acute Cardiovascular and Hemodynamic Responses to Low Intensity Eccentric Resistance Exercise with Blood Flow Restriction

“…However, the RPE increased in both protocols, and it is speculated that as the eccentric contraction generates larger muscle damage after exercise, the stress imposed on the muscles is very high which provided a significant increase in RPE. In addition, it is observed that some studies have reported the effect of RE with BFR on the RPE (32, 37-39), but none of them evaluated the effect of eccentric RE on RPE.…”