Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Exercises in Healthy Individuals.

Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University480 enrolled

Overview

Partial restriction of blood flow to working muscles during exercise is proven to increase muscle mass and strength even with low-intensity of exercise. Blood Flow Restriction Training (BFRT) is also beneficial to improve the maximum rate of oxygen consumption (VO2max), bone health, and vascular health. Recent studies focus on its effects beyond the musculoskeletal system. Post-exercise hypotension is a known acute physiological response that happens after intense exercise. Early studies demonstrated BFRT might amplify the acute hypotensive effects with low intensity of exercise. However, it's not clear what type of exercise would help to lower blood pressure when it is combined with BFRT. Considering BFRT, it's safe to implement among hypertensive individuals as per recent studies. It's still unclear what type of exercise would benefit maximum in reducing blood pressure while using it along BFR. The study aims to determine whether BFRT can influence BP, MAP, HR, and muscle girth differently while doing resisted exercises and aerobic exercise. Understanding the effects of BFRT on these parameters can provide valuable insights for optimizing exercise protocols and improving overall health outcomes. In general, this study can also add to the increasing amount of studies about the possible advantages and drawbacks of BFRT, and provide guidance on how to design exercise programs for people with borderline hypertension or in those with early phase of hypertension.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Interventions

Aerobic exercisesPROCEDURE

This group received a single session of low-intensity cycling for 20 minutes. A period of reperfusion (3 to 5 minutes) were provided in both groups after 10 minutes of exercise training by deflating the BFR cuffs. The cuffs were inflated after 5 minutes of reperfusion, and the exercises were completed in both groups.

Resisted exercisesPROCEDURE

This group received four sets of 15 repetitions of knee extension, hamstring curls, and standing calf raises (20-40% 1RM) with 30 sec to 1 minute rest period between sets. A period of reperfusion (3 to 5 minutes) were provided in both groups after 10 minutes of exercise training by deflating the BFR cuffs. The cuffs were inflated after 5 minutes of reperfusion, and the exercises were completed in both groups.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 35 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy adults of both gender, between the ages of 18 and 35 years * Adults who are not participating in any regular exercise/fitness programmes for the last three months Exclusion Criteria: * Adults with previous history of cardiovascular diseases, or with pathological changes in ECG * Adults with concomitant illness such as diabetes, hypertension, or kidney diseases * Chronic smokers or alcoholics * Those with recent history of injury to lower limbs or with implants in lower limbs