Key result
Blood flow occlusion superimposed on a 2-minute submaximal knee extension did not evoke exercise-induced hypoalgesia compared to exercise alone or rest.
Why the study?
It was unknown whether the superimposition of blood flow occlusion during low-intensity, low-volume resistance exercise could induce hypoalgesia via descending inhibitory pathways.
Does blood flow occlusion superimposed on low-intensity resistance exercise induce exercise-induced hypoalgesia in healthy adults?
RCT (n=19)
Randomized crossover
No
Does blood flow occlusion superimposed on low-intensity resistance exercise induce exercise-induced hypoalgesia in healthy adults?
p-value: p=0.150
A single bout of low-intensity, low-volume dynamic resistance exercise superimposed with blood flow occlusion is insufficient to evoke exercise-induced hypoalgesia in healthy adults.
Exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) is a transient decrease in pain perception that can be observed following various tasks, including non-painful low-intensity and painful high-intensity exercise. The application of blood flow occlusion (BFO) can help enhance exercise adaptations while being able to exercise at a low intensity, which has important implications for clinical and rehabilitative settings. Through descending inhibitory pathways, BFO-induced pain can potentially alleviate exercise-induced pain. This study aimed to assess whether the superimposition of BFO – and its associated augmented perceived responses – during low-intensity, low-volume resistance exercise could induce hypoalgesia. Nineteen healthy adults (10 females) attended three sessions: i) no exercise (CTRL), ii) two minutes of dynamic single-leg knee extension at 10% body weight (EXER), and iii) EXER with complete occlusion applied to the upper exercising leg (OCCL). Handheld algometry-derived pain pressure threshold (PPT) of the trapezius and contralateral and ipsilateral rectus femoris muscles were measured pre- and post-exercise, and after 5 and 10 min of recovery. Perceived pain (0-10) and effort (6-20) were also rated after exercise. Although pain and effort were augmented in the OCCL condition (Pain: 6±2; Effort: 14±3) compared to CTRL (Pain: 2±2, p<0 . 001 ; Effort 9±2, p=0 . 017 ), PPT of all muscles did not change across time nor between any conditions. Therefore, the low-intensity, low-volume resistance exercise prescribed in the present study was insufficient to evoke EIH even with the application of BFO-induced pain.
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Morgan et al. (2024) conducted an RCT in Healthy adults (n=19). Blood flow occlusion superimposed on submaximal knee extensions vs. Submaximal knee extensions alone and seated rest was evaluated on Pressure pain threshold (PPT) (p=0.150). Blood flow occlusion superimposed on a 2-minute submaximal knee extension did not evoke exercise-induced hypoalgesia compared to exercise alone or rest.
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