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Contralateral training effects of low-intensity blood-flow restricted and high-intensity unilateral resistance training

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Abstract

Purpose

Determine whether unilateral low-intensity blood-flow restricted (LIBFR) exercise is as effective as high-intensity (HI) resistance training for improving contralateral muscle strength.

Methods

Thirty healthy adults (20–30 years) were randomly allocated to the following dynamic plantar-flexion training interventions: HI [75% of one-repetition maximum (1RM), 4 sets, 10 reps] and LIBFR [20% of 1RM, 4 sets, 30 + 15 + 15 + 15 reps]. Evoked V-wave and H-reflex recruitment curves, as well as maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and panoramic ultrasound assessments of the trained and untrained soleus muscles were obtained pre-training, post-4 weeks of training and post-4 weeks of detraining.

Results

Both interventions failed to increase contralateral MVC and muscle cross-sectional area (CSA). Yet, contralateral rate of torque development (RTD) was enhanced by both regimens (12–26%) and this was accompanied by heightened soleus EMG within the first milliseconds of the rising torque-time curve (14–22%; p < 0.05). These improvements were dissipated after detraining. Contralateral adaptations were not accompanied by changes in V-wave or H-reflex excitability. Conversely, LIBFR and HI elicited a similar magnitude of ipsilateral increase in MVC, RTD and CSA post-training (10–18%). Improvements in V-wave amplitude and soleus EMG were limited to the trained leg assigned to LIBFR training (p < 0.05). While gains in strength and CSA remained preserved post-4 weeks of detraining, this did not occur with RTD.

Conclusion

Since gains in RTD were similar between interventions, our findings indicate that both training regimens can be used interchangeably for improving contralateral rapid torque production. Ultimately, this may be beneficial in circumstances of limb immobilization after injury or surgery.

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Availability of data and material

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

ARV:

Average rectified value

BFR:

Blood flow restriction

CSA:

Cross-sectional area

EMG:

Electromyography

ES:

Effect size

HI:

High intensity

Hmax :

Maximal H-reflex amplitude

LI:

Low intensity

Msup :

M-wave amplitude during supramaximal stimulation

MVC:

Maximal voluntary contraction

RM:

Repetition maximum

RTD:

Rate of torque development

SD:

Standard deviation

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Funding

This work was partly supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, under Grants PTDC/DTP-DES/5714/2014 and UIDB/00447/2020 to CIPER—Centro Interdisciplinar para o Estudo da Performance Humana (unit 447).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuromuscular Research Lab, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada da Costa, Cruz Quebrada, Dafundo, 1499-002, Lisbon, Portugal

    Goncalo V. Mendonca, Carolina Teodósio, André D. Goncalves, Sandro R. Freitas, Pedro Mil-Homens & Pedro Pezarat-Correia

  2. CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada da Costa, Cruz Quebrada, 1499-002, Dafundo, Portugal

    Goncalo V. Mendonca, Sandro R. Freitas, Pedro Mil-Homens & Pedro Pezarat-Correia

  3. Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, Av. Dr. Francisco Sá Carneiro, n. 50, 6300-559, Guarda, Portugal

    Carolina Vila-Chã

  4. Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), Vila-Real, Portugal

    Carolina Vila-Chã

Authors
  1. Goncalo V. Mendonca
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  2. Carolina Vila-Chã
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  3. Carolina Teodósio
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  4. André D. Goncalves
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  5. Sandro R. Freitas
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  6. Pedro Mil-Homens
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  7. Pedro Pezarat-Correia
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Contributions

GVM designed the study with PPC, PMH and SRF. CT, ADG and CVC, together with GVM performed all the experiments. GVM, ADG, CT and CVC analyzed and interpreted the data. GVM and CVC wrote the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Goncalo V. Mendonca.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Ethical approval

The experimental design was approved by the Faculty’s Ethics Committee (CEFMH N° 4/2017).

Consent to participate

Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

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The authors affirm that human research participants provided informed consent for publication of the data included in this manuscript.

Additional information

Communicated by Michalis G Nikolaidis.

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Mendonca, G.V., Vila-Chã, C., Teodósio, C. et al. Contralateral training effects of low-intensity blood-flow restricted and high-intensity unilateral resistance training. Eur J Appl Physiol 121, 2305–2321 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04708-2

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