Low-intensity cycling with blood flow restriction elicited greater energy expenditure (P<0.05) and higher heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and perceived exertion (P<0.01) than control.
RCT (n=34)
Random order
Does blood flow restriction during low-intensity cycling increase energy expenditure and hemodynamic responses in an obese population?
p-value: p=<0.05
PURPOSE: The study investigated the acute effects of different initial restrictive pressures (IRP; tightness of cuffs before inflation with air) on heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and energy expenditure (EE) during constant-load upright cycling. METHODS: In a within subject study design, 34 obese men (age = 24·3, n = 18) and women (age = 23·1, n = 16) completed three cycling sessions (two blood flow restriction and one control sessions). The cycling exercise was performed with an external load of 1kp at 50 rpm for 20 min with 1-min rest after the 10th-min. The blood flow restriction (BFR) cuffs were placed on the thigh of both legs during BFR sessions and IRP and IRP of ~40 or ~60 mmHg were applied in random order. RESULTS: There were significant condition × time interactions for HR, SBP, RPE and RER and time × gender interactions for HR and SBP. There were also significant condition and time main effects for HR, SBP, RPE and RER (P<0·01) and a significant condition effect for EE (P<0·05). CONCLUSION: The intensity of exercise with BFR was higher and affected by IRP, but the subjects perceived the effort as 'light'. Low-intensity cycling with BFR shows potential to reduce the time requirement per session to elicit greater EE while placing greater demands on the circulatory system.
Karabulut et al. (Fri,) conducted a rct in Obesity (n=34). Blood flow restriction (BFR) during cycling vs. Control session (cycling without BFR) was evaluated on Heart rate, systolic blood pressure, rating of perceived exertion, respiratory exchange ratio, and energy expenditure (p=<0.05). Low-intensity cycling with blood flow restriction elicited greater energy expenditure (P<0.05) and higher heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and perceived exertion (P<0.01) than control.