Introduction: Blood flow restricted exercises utilize localised blood flow restriction achieved with a pneumatic cuff placed at the proximal part of the limb. Blood flow restricted exercises with low load resistance have similar effects on muscle volume and strength as free blood flow exercises with high load, which makes it useful especially in subjects with low tolerance for mechanical stress of the joints. Purpose: Purpose of the present study is to investigate the influence of thigh circumference and skinfold thickness on muscle performance during blood flow restricted exercises and to design a model for calculation of optimal occlusion pressure for each individual. Methods: Thigh circumference, skinfold thickness and body weight were measured in 29 participants. We also asked them about their age and body height. After warm-up we determined maximum torque of the muscle quadriceps femoris at 90°/s. Next, we tested the participants’ endurance at 20% of maximum torque at occlusion pressure of 0 and 120 mmHg and repeated the same protocol with 80 and 150 mmHg the following day. The correlations between different anthropometric properties and number of repetitions at different occlusion pressures were calculated. Results: The absolute number of repetitions was dependent on occlusion pressure, skinfold thickness and lean thigh circumference. The number of repetitions decreased with the increase of occlusion pressure, greater skinfold thickness and smaller lean thigh circumference. Discussion and conclusion: Results show a trend of decreasing absolute number of repetitions with increasing cuff pressure and skinfold thickness or decreasing lean thigh circumference. Regression model, which was built in this research, enables calculation of desired number of repetitions at given occlusion pressure with the use of asymmetric cuff and low load blood flow restricted exercises. For optimal determination of occlusion pressure it is also important to factor in individual pain intensity during exercises.
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