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Influence of relative blood flow restriction pressure on muscle activation and muscle adaptation
Author(s) -
Counts Brittany R.,
Dankel Scott J.,
Barnett Brian E.,
Kim Daeyeol,
Mouser J. Grant,
Allen Kirsten M.,
Thiebaud Robert S.,
Abe Takashi,
Bemben Michael G.,
Loenneke Jeremy P.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.24756
Subject(s) - blood flow restriction , medicine , cardiology , blood flow , occlusion , blood pressure , electromyography , elbow , skeletal muscle , isotonic , anatomy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , anesthesia , resistance training
The aim of this study was to investigate the acute and chronic skeletal muscle response to differing levels of blood flow restriction (BFR) pressure. Methods: Fourteen participants completed elbow flexion exercise with pressures from 40% to 90% of arterial occlusion. Pre/post torque measurements and electromyographic (EMG) amplitude of each set were quantified for each condition. This was followed by a separate 8‐week training study of the effect of high (90% arterial occlusion) and low (40% arterial occlusion) pressure on muscle size and function. Results: For the acute study, decreases in torque were similar between pressures [–15.5 (5.9) Nm, P = 0.344]. For amplitude of the first 3 and last 3 reps there was a time effect. After training, increases in muscle size (10%), peak isotonic strength (18%), peak isokinetic torque (180°/s = 23%, 60°/s = 11%), and muscular endurance (62%) changed similarly between pressures. Conclusion: We suggest that higher relative pressures may not be necessary when exercising under BFR. Muscle Nerve 53: 438–445, 2016