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Muscle damage and repeated bout effect following blood flow restricted exercise

European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Blood-flow restricted resistance exercise training (BFRE) is suggested to be effective in rehabilitation training, but more knowledge is required about its potential muscle damaging effects. Therefore, we investigated muscle-damaging effects of BFRE performed to failure and possible protective effects of previous bouts of BFRE or maximal eccentric exercise (ECC).

Methods

Seventeen healthy young men were allocated into two groups completing two exercise bouts separated by 14 days. One group performed BFRE in both exercise bouts (BB). The other group performed ECC in the first and BFRE in the second bout. BFRE was performed to failure. Indicators of muscle damage were evaluated before and after exercise.

Results

The first bout in the BB group led to decrements in maximum isometric torque, and increases in muscle soreness, muscle water retention, and serum muscle protein concentrations after exercise. These changes were comparable in magnitude and time course to what was observed after first bout ECC. An attenuated response was observed in the repeated exercise bout in both groups.

Conclusion

We conclude that unaccustomed single-bout BFRE performed to failure induces significant muscle damage. Additionally, both ECC and BFRE can precondition against muscle damage induced by a subsequent bout of BFRE.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

AUC:

Area under curve

BFRE:

Blood flow restriction exercise

CK:

Creatine kinase

CSA:

Cross-sectional area

DOMS:

Delayed onset muscle soreness

ECC:

Eccentric exercise

EIMD:

Exercise-induced muscle damage

Mb:

Myoglobin

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

MVC:

Maximum voluntary contraction

ROI:

Region of interest

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Acknowledgments

The study was funded by Helga and Peter Kornings Foundation and by the Danish Council for Independent Research (FSS). We acknowledge the expert technical assistance provided by Janni Mosgaard Jensen and Gitte Kaiser Hartvigsen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Sport Science, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Dalgas Avenue 4, 8000, Århus, Denmark

    Peter Sieljacks, Andreas Matzon, Kristian Vissing & Kristian Overgaard

  2. Department of Food and Nutrition and Sport Science, Center for Health and Performance, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden

    Mathias Wernbom

  3. Lundberg Laboratory for Orthopaedic Research, Department of Orthopedics, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden

    Mathias Wernbom

  4. Department of Clinical Medicine, MR-Research Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Århus, Denmark

    Steffen Ringgaard

Authors
  1. Peter Sieljacks
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  2. Andreas Matzon
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  3. Mathias Wernbom
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  4. Steffen Ringgaard
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  5. Kristian Vissing
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  6. Kristian Overgaard
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Correspondence to Kristian Overgaard.

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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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Sieljacks, P., Matzon, A., Wernbom, M. et al. Muscle damage and repeated bout effect following blood flow restricted exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 513–525 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3304-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3304-8

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