Key result
Blood flow restriction during rest periods of a 4-week resistance training program (70% 1RM) did not alter maximal strength but significantly decreased skeletal muscle miR-1 and miR-133a levels.
Why the study?
While blood flow restriction (BFR) during exercise bouts induces skeletal muscle hypertrophy, the effects of BFR during rest periods between sets of high-intensity resistance training were unknown.
Does blood flow restriction during rest periods of high-intensity resistance training improve performance in young adult male university students?
RCT (n=22)
Does blood flow restriction during rest periods of high-intensity resistance training improve performance in young adult male university students?
Blood flow restriction during rest periods of high-intensity resistance training does not enhance performance but downregulates specific microRNAs in skeletal muscle.
BFR during rest adds no performance benefit in young males; leaves open miRNA roles and applicability to other populations.
Blood flow restriction (BFR) during exercise bouts has been used to induce hypertrophy of skeletal muscle, even with low loads. However, the effects of BFR during the rest periods between sets are not known. We have tested the hypothesis that BFR during rest periods between sets of high-intensity resistance training would enhance performance. Twenty-two young adult male university students were recruited for the current study, with n = 11 assigned to BFR and n = 11 to a control group. The results revealed that four weeks training at 70% of 1 RM, five sets and 10 repetitions, three times a week with and without BFR, resulted in similar progress in maximal strength and in the number of maximal repetitions. The miR-1 and miR-133a decreased significantly in the vastus lateralis muscle of BFR group compared to the group without BFR, while no significant differences in the levels of miR133b, miR206, miR486, and miR499 were found between groups. In conclusion, it seems that BFR restrictions during rest periods of high-intensity resistance training, do not provide benefit for enhanced performance after a four-week training program. However, BFR-induced downregulation of miR-1 and miR-133a might cause different adaptive responses of skeletal muscle to high intensity resistance training.
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Torma et al. (2021) reported an RCT. Blood flow restriction during rest periods vs. Control group (without blood flow restriction) was evaluated on Maximal strength and number of maximal repetitions. Blood flow restriction during rest periods of a 4-week resistance training program (70% 1RM) did not alter maximal strength but significantly decreased skeletal muscle miR-1 and miR-133a levels.
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