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Low-load blood flow restriction elicits greater concentric strength than non-blood flow restriction resistance training but similar isometric strength and muscle size

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Abstract

Purpose

Low-load venous blood flow restriction resistance training (RT + BFR) has been demonstrated to increase muscle strength to a greater degree than low-load non-BFR resistance training (RT) during isotonic training, but no previous investigations have examined RT + BFR versus RT during isokinetic training. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of 4 weeks of isokinetic low-load RT + BFR versus low-load RT on indices of muscle strength, muscle size, and neural adaptations.

Methods

Thirty women (mean ± SD; 22 ± 2 years) participated in this investigation and were randomly assigned to 4 weeks of either RT + BFR (n = 10), RT (n = 10), or control (n = 10) group. Resistance training consisted of 75 reciprocal forearm flexion–extension isokinetic muscle actions of the forearm flexors performed at a velocity of 120°s−1.

Results

Concentric peak torque increased to a greater extent for RT + BFR after 4 weeks (36.9%) compared to RT (25.8%), but there were similar increases in isometric torque (23.3–42.1%). For both RT + BFR and RT, there were similar increases in muscle cross-sectional area and muscle thickness of the biceps brachii after 2 weeks (11.3–14.3% and 12.4–12.9%, respectively) and 4 weeks (18.7–21.9% and 19.0–20.0%, respectively). There were similar increases in mechanomyographic amplitude, mechanomyographic mean power frequency, and electromyographic mean power frequency, but no changes in electromyographic amplitude for all conditions (including control).

Conclusions

These findings indicated that low-load RT + BFR elicited greater increases in concentric strength than low-load RT, but elicited comparable increases in isometric strength and muscle size. There were also no differences in any of the EMG and MMG responses among conditions.

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Abbreviations

BFR:

Venous blood flow restriction

DCER:

Dynamic constant external resistance

EMG:

Electromyography

MVIC:

Maximal voluntary isometric contraction

MMG:

Mechanomyography

RT:

Resistance training

RT + BFR:

Resistance training with blood flow restriction

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Acknowledgements

We thank the participants for their participation throughout the duration of the study.

Funding

This research was supported by the NASA Nebraska Space Grant.

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

    Terry J. Housh, Joshua L. Keller, John V. Anders, Richard J. Schmidt, Glen O. Johnson & Joel T. Cramer

  3. Department of Kinesiology, College of Health Sciences, 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 and TJH were substantial contributors to study concept and design. ECH carried out data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation, and was the primary author. ECH, JLK, CMS, JPA, RJS, GOJ, and JTC helped with subject recruitment. TJH was the primary manuscript reviser. All authors approved the final version of this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ethan C. Hill.

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Conflict of interest

No conflicts of interest, financial, or otherwise, are declared by the authors. All data are presented honestly, without fabrication, falsification, or data manipulation.

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Communicated by William J. Kraemer.

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Hill, E.C., Housh, T.J., Keller, J.L. et al. Low-load blood flow restriction elicits greater concentric strength than non-blood flow restriction resistance training but similar isometric strength and muscle size. Eur J Appl Physiol 120, 425–441 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04287-3

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