Key result
Blood flow restriction with low-intensity resistance exercise acutely augments aortic stiffness without increasing myocardial oxygen demand.
Why the study?
A consensus on acute cardiovascular responses to low-intensity resistance exercise combined with blood flow restriction has not yet been reached.
Does low intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction alter acute cardiovascular hemodynamics and aortic stiffness compared to low and high intensity resistance exercise without BFR in physically active young males?
RCT (n=17)
Open-label
Random order (crossover)
No
Does low intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction alter acute cardiovascular hemodynamics and aortic stiffness compared to low and high intensity resistance exercise without BFR in physically active young males?
Low-intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction acutely augments aortic stiffness similarly to high-intensity exercise, but does not exaggerate myocardial oxygen consumption.
May warrant vascular caution with BFR even at low intensity; extends RCT evidence on acute hemodynamic responses in young adults.
A consensus on the acute cardiovascular responses to low intensity (LI) resistance exercise (RE) combined with blood flow restriction (BFR) has not yet been reached. This study was designed to compare acute cardiovascular responses to a single bout of LIRE, high intensity (HI) RE, and LIRE with BFR in physically active young males. Participants completed 3 RE sessions in random order, where each session consists of 4 sets of unilateral dumbbell bicep curls. Cardiovascular hemodynamics were measured at baseline and right after each set of RE. Aortic augmentation index (AIx) was significantly higher after set 2,3,4 of RE in LI + BFR session compared to LI session (P < 0.05). Brachial systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR), brachial rate pressure product (RPP), and central RPP responses did not differ between LI and LI + BFR sessions (P > 0.05). HI session had a higher central SBP, brachial RPP, central RPP, and aortic AIx compared to LI session after each set of RE (P < 0.05), but not brachial SBP (P > 0.05). Taken together, this study showed that LIRE combined with BFR acutely augmented aortic stiffness, as also observed in HI session, but myocardial oxygen consumption was only higher in HI session when compared to LI session. Thus, although BFR did not exaggerate cardiovascular responses nor cause extra myocardial oxygen consumption, it should be prescribed with caution when control of acute aortic stiffening is necessary during RE.
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Zheng et al. (2023) conducted an RCT in Healthy physically active young males (n=17). Low intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction vs. Low intensity (20% 1RM) and high intensity (80% 1RM) resistance exercise without blood flow restriction was evaluated on Aortic augmentation index (AIx) after resistance exercise (p=<0.05). Low intensity resistance exercise combined with blood flow restriction acutely augmented aortic stiffness compared to low intensity exercise alone (P < 0.05), but did not exaggerate myocardial oxygen consumption.
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