Key result
Blood flow-restricted aerobic training significantly increases muscle mass and thigh circumference versus standard running.
Why the study?
The study investigated the effect of low-intensity aerobic training combined with blood flow restriction on body composition, physical fitness, and vascular functions in recreational runners.
Does low-intensity aerobic training combined with blood flow restriction improve body composition, physical fitness, and vascular responses in healthy male recreational runners?
RCT (n=30)
Open-label
Randomized
No
Does low-intensity aerobic training combined with blood flow restriction improve body composition, physical fitness, and vascular responses in healthy male recreational runners?
Eight weeks of low-intensity aerobic training with blood flow restriction significantly increased muscle mass and thigh circumference in healthy male recreational runners, but did not alter vascular responses.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Supports BFR-augmented low-intensity aerobic training for muscle gains in runners; extends prior resistance-exercise data to endurance athletes.
This study investigated the effect of low-intensity aerobic training combined with blood flow restriction (LABFR) on body composition, physical fitness, and vascular functions in recreational runners. The participants were 30 healthy male recreational runners, randomized between the LABFR (n = 15) and control (n = 15) groups. The LABFR group performed five sets of a repeated pattern of 2 min running at 40% VO2max and 1 min passive rest, while wearing the occlusion cuff belts on the proximal end of the thigh. The frequency was three times a week for the period of eight weeks. The control group performed the identical running protocol without wearing the occlusion cuff belts. At the end of the training, the participants’ body composition (fat mass, body fat, muscle mass, and right and left thigh circumference), physical fitness (power and VO2max), and vascular responses (flow-mediated dilation (FMD), brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), ankle brachial index (ABI), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP)) were measured. The results showed a significant time × group interaction effect on muscle mass (F = 53.242, p = 0.001, ηp2 = 0.664) and right thigh circumference (F = 4.544, p = 0.042, ηp2 = 0.144), but no significant variation in any other factors, including fat mass, body fat, left thigh circumference, FMD, baPWV, ABI, SBP, and DBP (p > 0.05). Overall, our results suggested that eight-week LABFR exerted a positive effect on the body composition, especially muscle mass and thigh circumference, of recreational runners.
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Beak et al. (2022) conducted an RCT in Healthy recreational runners (n=30). Low-intensity aerobic training combined with blood flow restriction (LABFR) vs. Identical running protocol without occlusion cuff belts was evaluated on Muscle mass (ηp2 = 0.664, p=0.001). Eight weeks of low-intensity aerobic training combined with blood flow restriction increased muscle mass and right thigh circumference compared to control in male recreational runners.
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