Blood flow restriction training reduced interventricular septal thickness and improved diastolic indices in runners with exercise-induced hypertension compared to control.
RCT (n=29)
Does blood flow restriction training improve cardiac structure and diastolic function in middle-aged runners with exercise-induced hypertension?
A two-month blood flow restriction training program improves diastolic function, reduces septal thickness, and enhances cardiorespiratory fitness in middle-aged runners with exercise-induced hypertension.
Background/Objectives: Exercise-induced hypertension (EIH) in runners predisposes them to cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial hypertrophy, arrhythmias, and coronary artery disease. Blood flow restriction (BFR) training has been reported to exert non-pharmacological benefits in runners with EIH by improving blood pressure, myocardial workload, and cardiorespiratory fitness. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether changes in myocardial structure and function accompany these effects of BFR training in middle-aged runners with EIH. Methods: Participants who exhibited a maximal systolic blood pressure of ≥210 mmHg during an exercise stress test were assigned either to a BFR training group (BFRTg, n = 15) or to a control group without BFR training (non-BFRTg, n = 14). The BFRTg underwent a two-month BFR training program, performed twice per week for 20 min per session. Cardiac structure and function were evaluated before and after the intervention, and exercise stress test data were obtained from secondary sources of a previous study. Results: Compared with controls, the BFR group showed lower maximal exercise SBP, longer exercise duration, and higher VO2max. Echocardiography revealed reduced interventricular septal thickness and improved diastolic indices (higher E′/A′, lower E/E′), while systolic function remained unchanged. Conclusions: In conclusion, reductions in septal thickness and improvements in diastolic function induced by blood flow restriction training in runners with exercise-induced hypertension suggest a favorable cardiac adaptation, accompanied by concurrent improvements in exercise blood pressure and cardiorespiratory fitness.
Kim et al. (Mon,) conducted a rct in Exercise-induced hypertension in runners (n=29). Blood flow restriction (BFR) training vs. Control group without BFR training was evaluated on Cardiac structure and function (interventricular septal thickness and diastolic indices). Blood flow restriction training reduced interventricular septal thickness and improved diastolic indices in runners with exercise-induced hypertension compared to control.