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Eccentric and concentric blood flow restriction resistance training on indices of delayed onset muscle soreness in untrained women

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Abstract

Purpose

Unaccustomed exercise can result in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), particularly as a result of the eccentric phase of the muscle contraction. Resistance training combined with venous blood flow restriction (vBFR) may attenuate DOMS, but the available information in this regard is conflicting. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of low-load eccentric vBFR (Ecc-vBFR) and concentric vBFR (Con-vBFR) resistance training on indices of DOMS.

Methods

Twenty-five previously untrained women completed seven days of either Ecc-vBFR (n = 12) or Con-vBFR (n = 13) forearm flexion resistance training at a velocity of 120° s−1 on an isokinetic dynamometer. The Ecc-vBFR group used a training load that corresponded to 30% of eccentric peak torque and the Con-vBFR group used a training load that corresponded to 30% of concentric peak torque.

Results

There were no differences between Ecc-vBFR and Con-vBFR at any of the seven training sessions on any of the indices of DOMS. There were no decreases in the maximal voluntary isometric contraction torque which increased at days 6 and 7. Similarly, there were no changes in perceived muscle soreness, pain pressure threshold, elbow joint angle, or edema (as assessed by echo intensity via ultrasound) across the seven training sessions.

Conclusions

The Ecc-vBFR and Con-vBFR low-load training protocols were not associated with DOMS and there were no differences between protocols when performed using the same relative training intensity. These findings suggested that both unaccustomed eccentric and concentric low-load training did not result in DOMS when combined with vBFR.

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Abbreviations

Ecc-vBFR:

Eccentric venous blood flow restriction

Con-vBFR:

Concentric venous blood flow restriction

vBFR:

Venous blood flow restriction

DOMS:

Delayed onset muscle soreness

MVIC:

Maximal voluntary isometric contraction

PPT:

Pain pressure threshold

1RM:

One repetition maximum

MD:

Minimal difference

SEM:

Standard error of measurement

ICC:

Intraclass correlation coefficient

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Strength and Conditioning Association Doctoral Research Grant and NASA Nebraska Space Grant (Grant No. 44-0307-1019-457). All data are presented honestly, without fabrication, falsification, or data manipulation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Kinesiology, School of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Central Florida, 12494 University Boulevard, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA

    Ethan C. Hill

  2. Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68505, USA

    Terry J. Housh, Joshua L. Keller, Richard J. Schmidt & Glen O. Johnson

  3. College of Health Sciences, Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA

    Cory M. Smith

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  1. Ethan C. Hill
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  2. Terry J. Housh
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Contributions

ECH was a substantial contributor to study concept and design, carried out data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation, and was the primary author. TJH was the primary manuscript reviser. CMS, JLK, RJS, and GOJ assisted with subject recruitment. All authors approved the final version of this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ethan C. Hill.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Communicated by William J. Kraemer.

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Hill, E.C., Housh, T.J., Smith, C.M. et al. Eccentric and concentric blood flow restriction resistance training on indices of delayed onset muscle soreness in untrained women. Eur J Appl Physiol 119, 2363–2373 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04220-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04220-8

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