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Effects of high-intensity and blood flow-restricted low-intensity resistance training on carotid arterial compliance: role of blood pressure during training sessions

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Abstract

We examined the effects of high-intensity resistance training (HIT) and low-intensity blood flow-restricted (LI-BFR) resistance training on carotid arterial compliance. Nineteen young men were randomly divided into HIT (n = 9) or LI-BFR (n = 10) groups. The HIT and LI-BFR groups performed 75 and 30 %, respectively, of one-repetition maximum (1-RM) bench press exercise, 3 days per week for 6 weeks. During the training sessions, the LI-BFR group wore elastic cuffs around the most proximal region of both arms. Muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), 1-RM strength, and carotid arterial compliance were measured before and 3 days after the final training session. Acute changes in systolic arterial pressure (SAP), plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitrite/nitrate (NOx), and noradrenalin concentrations were also measured during and after a bout of training session. The training led to significant increases (P < 0.01) in bench press 1-RM and arm and chest muscle CSA in the two training groups. Carotid arterial compliance decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the HIT group, but not in the LI-BFR group. There was a significant correlation (r = −0.533, P < 0.05) between the change in carotid arterial compliance and the acute change in SAP during training sessions; however, ET-1 and NOx did not correlate with carotid arterial compliance. Our results suggest that muscle CSA and strength increased following 6 weeks of both HIT and LI-BFR training. However, carotid arterial compliance decreased in only the HIT group, and the changes were correlated with SAP elevations during exercise sessions.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the subjects who participated in this study. No funding was received.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan

    Hayao Ozaki, Tomohiro Yasuda, Riki Ogasawara, Mikako Sakamaki-Sunaga & Takashi Abe

  2. Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, 1-1 Hiragagakuendai, Inzai, Chiba, Japan

    Hayao Ozaki & Hisashi Naito

  3. Department of Exercise and Sport Physiology, Women’s Junior College of Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan

    Mikako Sakamaki-Sunaga

  4. Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA

    Takashi Abe

Authors
  1. Hayao Ozaki
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  2. Tomohiro Yasuda
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  3. Riki Ogasawara
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  4. Mikako Sakamaki-Sunaga
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  5. Hisashi Naito
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  6. Takashi Abe
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Correspondence to Hayao Ozaki.

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Communicated by Massimo Pagani.

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Ozaki, H., Yasuda, T., Ogasawara, R. et al. Effects of high-intensity and blood flow-restricted low-intensity resistance training on carotid arterial compliance: role of blood pressure during training sessions. Eur J Appl Physiol 113, 167–174 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2422-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2422-9

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