Hemodynamic responses to strength exercise with blood flow restriction in small muscle groups

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the acute hemodynamic responses to strength exercise with blood flow restriction involving small muscle groups. The sample consisted of 10 male volunteers (22.6 ± 2.07 years, 1.78 ± 0.06 m, 76.32 ± 13.36 kg) who randomly performed two experimental protocols involving the elbow flexion exercise with the dominant arm: strength exercise of the elbow flexors with blood flow restriction (EFBFR) and strength exercise of the elbow flexors without blood flow restriction (EEF). A cross-over design with a seven to ten days interval between the experimental protocols was used. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and mean (MAP), pulse pressure (PP), heart rate (HR) and double product (DP) were evaluated at rest, immediately after exercise and at 15 minutes of recovery. SBP, DBP and MAP presented a significant increase (p <0.05) immediately after EFBFR when compared to the protocol without blood flow restriction, returning to rest values at the 15 minutes of recovery. DBP significantly reduced (p <0.05) in the recovery period only in the EFBFR experiment and HR increased post-effort in both experiments. The PP and DP did not change between the different times, regardless of the protocol.The results of the present study allow us to conclude that strength exercise with BFR involving small muscle groups was more efficient than exercise without BFR to promote acute changes in hemodynamic responses and that BFR did not represent a cardiovascular risk considering its effects on PP.