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Effects of detraining after blood flow-restricted low-intensity training on muscle size and strength in older adults

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Abstract

Background

Although blood flow-restricted low-intensity resistance training (BFR-RT) increases muscle size and strength in older adults, the effect of detraining on muscle adaptation is unclear.

Methods

We investigated the effects of 24 weeks of detraining on thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and one-repetition maximum strength (1-RM) in older adults who had previously participated in 12 weeks of training (BFR-RT, 20–30 % 1-RM, knee extension and leg press) or non-BFR training.

Results

Both 1-RM and relative dynamic strengths (1-RM divided by quadriceps femoris (QF) muscle CSA) were higher at both post-training and detraining than at pre-training for the BFR-RT group (p < 0.05). QF muscle CSA was higher at only post-training than at pre-training for the BFR-RT group (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Increased muscle strength following 12 weeks of training with BFR-RT was well preserved at 24 weeks of detraining, which is due mainly to neural adaptation in older adults.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the participants who participated in this study. We also thank Dr. Hideo Tsuneyoshi, Mr. Kei Hattori, Mr. Hiroyuki Oka, Mr. Masahiko Tsuneki (Tokyo Hitachi Hospital) for technical support. This study was supported, in part, by Grant-in-aid (#50227790 to TN and #23700713 to TY) from the Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology.

Conflict of interest

Dr. Yoshiaki Sato is the inventor of the KAATSU training method. He received U.S. Patent No. 6,149,618 and corresponding patents outside the United States related to KAATSU training.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ischemic Circulatory Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan

    Tomohiro Yasuda, Kazuya Fukumura & Toshiaki Nakajima

  2. Department of Basic Sciences in Medicine, Kaatsu International University, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka

    Yoshiaki Sato

  3. Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan

    Tatsuya Yamasoba

Authors
  1. Tomohiro Yasuda
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  2. Kazuya Fukumura
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  3. Yoshiaki Sato
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  4. Tatsuya Yamasoba
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  5. Toshiaki Nakajima
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tomohiro Yasuda.

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Yasuda, T., Fukumura, K., Sato, Y. et al. Effects of detraining after blood flow-restricted low-intensity training on muscle size and strength in older adults. Aging Clin Exp Res 26, 561–564 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-014-0208-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-014-0208-0

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