Does Blood Flow Restriction Cause Neuromuscular Adaptability in Lower Limb Musculature While Pushing Low-Load Resistance?

Introduction: Blood flow restriction (BFR) combined with resistance training can promote hypertrophy, enhance muscle activation, and improve function. Muscle electromyography (EMG) is commonly used to elucidate neuromuscular recruitment and highlight adaptive changes in recruitment due to BFR. Purpose: This study used electromyography (EMG) to determine the influence of BFR on lower-extremity (LE) neuromuscular activation timing during resistive sled training. Methods: Sixty-two participants were recruited (eight males and 54 females; mean age, 23 years). EMG) electrodes were placed on the belly of selected muscles of the dominant LE to record muscle activation. Participants pushed an XPO sled trainer at slow (60 bpm) and fast (140 bpm) walking speed protocols (three trials each) with and without the application of BFR to the LE for a total of 12 trials. The EMG variables assessed were time to peak, decay, and duration of muscle activation. Results: The outcomes revealed several adaptations in EMG variables for functionally activated muscles above and below the cuff when pushing a sled while using BFR. Conclusions & Clinical Relevance: Several tendencies have been identified in the gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, and hip extensors depending on walking speed, which may be foundational to future research and should be explored further. Our results suggest that low-load BFR can benefit patients with leg musculature weakness, extensor musculature fatigue, and proximal thigh musculature rehabilitation.