Key result
Low-intensity blood flow restriction endurance training significantly increased VO2max compared to control (P<0.05) and decreased femoral-tibial pulse wave velocity.
Why the study?
The study was designed to determine the effects of short-term low-intensity blood flow restriction endurance training on aerobic capacity, hemodynamics, and arterial stiffness in healthy young males.
Does low-intensity blood flow restriction endurance training improve aerobic capacity, hemodynamics, and arterial stiffness in healthy young males?
RCT (n=39)
Randomly assigned
Does low-intensity blood flow restriction endurance training improve aerobic capacity, hemodynamics, and arterial stiffness in healthy young males?
p-value: p=<0.05
Low-intensity endurance training with blood flow restriction over 6 weeks improves aerobic capacity and reduces peripheral arterial stiffness in healthy young males.
Supports low-intensity BFR endurance training to improve aerobic capacity and vascular function in young males; extends BFR evidence to endurance modalities.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of short-term low-intensity blood flow restriction (BFR) endurance training (ET) programs on measures of aerobic capacity, hemodynamics, and arterial stiffness in healthy young males. METHODS: Thirty-nine healthy young recreationally active males participated in this short-term training study. They were randomly assigned to a high-intensity (HI; N.=11; trained at 60-70% of VO<inf>2</inf> reserve [VO<inf>2</inf>R]), low-intensity (LI; N.=8; trained at 30-40% of VO<inf>2</inf>R), low-intensity with BFR (LI-BFR; N.=10; trained at 30-40% of VO<inf>2</inf>R with BFR) or a non-exercising control group (N.=10). The exercising subjects completed a 6-wk training protocol on a treadmill. Assessment of aerobic capacity (VO<inf>2max</inf>), hemodynamics and arterial stiffness were done before and after training. RESULTS: Statistical analyses revealed a significant condition main effect (P<0.05) for VO<inf>2max</inf>, indicating significant increase (P<0.05) in VO<inf>2max</inf> in LI-BFR group compared to control. There were no significant changes for resting heart rate (RHR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (PWV), and carotid-femoral PWV (P>0.05). However, femoral-tibial PWV decreased significantly (P<0.05) from baseline to post-training. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the application of BFR during ET may cause faster and/or greater adaptations in one or more physiological systems resulting in improved cardiorespiratory fitness.
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Karabulut et al. (2021) conducted an RCT in Healthy (n=39). Low-intensity blood flow restriction (LI-BFR) endurance training vs. High-intensity training, low-intensity training, and non-exercising control was evaluated on Aerobic capacity (VO2max), hemodynamics, and arterial stiffness (p=<0.05). Low-intensity blood flow restriction endurance training significantly increased VO2max compared to control (P<0.05) and decreased femoral-tibial pulse wave velocity.
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