What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to examine how different durations of blood flow restriction during isometric handgrip exercise affect safety and effectiveness in the elderly.

January 25, 2026European Journal of Translational Myology0 citationsOpen Access

Acute responses of isometric handgrip exercise combined with blood flow restriction in the elderly

TSThailson Fernandes da SilvaUniversidade Católica de Brasília LSLeandro Lima de SousaUniversidade Católica de Brasília JLJohnatan Campos Sousa LeiteUniversidade Católica de Brasília

Key Result

Isometric handgrip exercise with blood flow restriction (BFR) is safe, but does not produce greater muscle activation compared to the protocol without BFR.

Key Points

This research aims to examine how different durations of blood flow restriction during isometric handgrip exercise affect safety and effectiveness in the elderly.
Analyzed the effects of three protocols: P1-1m, P2-30s, and P3-Control.
Measured hemodynamic markers including systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate.
Evaluated hematological markers such as D-dimer and fibrinogen.
Conducted surface electromyography on flexor digitorum superficialis and extensor digitorum communis muscles.
No significant differences in hemodynamic markers pre- and post-exercise.
Hematological markers showed no significant changes at pre- and post-30 minutes.
Significant differences in sEMG measurements at different points during each exercise protocol.

Structured PICO

Does isometric handgrip exercise combined with blood flow restriction improve muscle activation or alter safety markers compared to exercise without restriction in physically active elderly people?

Population

11 physically active elderly people, mean age 70.1 ± 7.1 years

Intervention

Isometric handgrip contraction combined with blood flow restriction (BFR) under different restriction times (protocols P1-1m and P2-30s)

Comparator

Isometric handgrip contraction without blood flow restriction (protocol P3-Control)

Outcome

Acute responses related to safety and effectiveness, including hemodynamic markers (SBP, DBP, HR), hematological markers (D-dimer, fibrinogen, APTT, ultrasensitive CRP), and surface electromyography (sEMG) of the flexor digitorum superficialis and extensor digitorum communis musclessurrogate

Isometric handgrip exercise with blood flow restriction is safe in physically active elderly individuals but does not provide greater acute muscle activation than exercise without restriction.

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the influence of isometric handgrip exercise under different blood flow restriction times on acute responses related to safety and effectiveness in the elderly. Eleven physically active elderly people (70.1 ± 7.1 years) were subjected to three protocols (P1-1m), (P2-30s) and (P3-Control) of isometric handgrip contraction. Hemodynamic markers (SBP, DBP and HR), hematological markers (D-dimer, fibrinogen, APTT and ultrasensitive CRP) and surface electromyography (sEMG) of the flexor digitorum superficialis and extensor digitorum communis muscles were analyzed. The hemodynamic variables showed no significant difference P < 0.05 between the moments before, immediately after, after 15 minutes, and after 30 minutes. The hematological variables showed no significant difference P < 0.05 between the pre- and post-30 minute time points. The sEMG variables showed a significant difference of p< 0.01 at the beginning, middle and end of each series and between the complete series for both muscles analyzed. In line with the aim of this study, we can accept the hypothesis that the P1-1m, P2-30s and P3-Control protocols are safe. However, we reject the hypothesis that the BFR protocols result in greater muscle activation compared to the protocol without BFR.

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