Abstract
Purpose
To investigate the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) on electromyographic amplitude (EMGRMS)–force relationships of the biceps brachii (BB) during a single high-load muscle action.
Methods
Twelve recreationally active males and eleven recreationally active females performed maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs), followed by an isometric trapezoidal muscle action of the elbow flexors at 70% MVC. Surface EMG was recorded from the BB during BFR and control (CON) visits. For BFR, cuff pressure was 60% of the pressure required to completely occlude blood at rest. Individual b (slope) and a terms (gain) were calculated from the log-transformed EMGRMS–force relationships during the linearly increasing and decreasing segments of the trapezoid. EMGRMS during the steady force segment was normalized to MVC EMGRMS.
Results
For BFR, the b terms were greater during the linearly increasing segment than the linearly decreasing segment (p < 0.001), and compared to the linearly increasing segment for CON (p < 0.001). The a terms for BFR were greater during the linearly decreasing than linearly increasing segment (p = 0.028). Steady force N-EMGRMS was greater for BFR than CON collapsed across sex (p = 0.041).
Conclusion
BFR likely elicited additional recruitment of higher threshold motor units during the linearly increasing- and steady force-segment. The differences between activation and deactivation strategies were only observed with BFR, such as the b terms decreased and the a terms increased for the linearly decreasing segment in comparison to the increasing segment. However, EMGRMS–force relationships during the linearly increasing- and decreasing-segments were not different between sexes during BFR and CON.
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Data availability
The data supporting this study’s findings are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- ANOVA:
-
Analysis of variance
- AOP:
-
Arterial occlusion pressure
- BB:
-
Biceps brachii
- BFR:
-
Blood flow restriction
- BABF:
-
Brachial artery blood flow
- CON:
-
Control
- EMGRMS :
-
Electromyography amplitude
- MVC:
-
Maximal voluntary contraction
- MU:
-
Motor unit
- mCSA:
-
Muscle cross-sectional area
- N-EMGRMS :
-
Normalized electromyographic amplitude
- sFAT:
-
Subcutaneous fat
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AAO, TKD, SMH, ECH, HCB, and MAT designed the experiments. AAO, TRM, KNS, TKD, SMH, HCB, ECH, PJS, JL, and MAT conducted the experiments. AAO, TRM, KNS, TKD, SMH, HCB, ECH, PJS, JL, and MAT analyzed the data. AAO and MAT wrote the manuscript. AAO and MAT edited and revised the manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript submitted for publication and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work. All persons designated as authors qualify for authorship, and all those who qualify for authorship are listed.
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Olmos, A.A., Montgomery, T.R., Sears, K.N. et al. Blood flow restriction increases necessary muscle excitation of the elbow flexors during a single high-load contraction. Eur J Appl Physiol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05405-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05405-y