The purpose of this Master's thesis was to determine the acute neurophysiological effects of isometric strength training with blood flow restriction (BFR).
Thirteen physically active men (21,1 ± 3,0 years 184,9 ± 7,2 cm, 81,4 ± 9,1kg) performed three different training sessions. On each visit they performed the same tests under the same conditions, the only variable was the training method. One time they trained without BFR, one time with intermittent BFR, and one time with continuous BFR. They performed 3 sets of isometric unilateral knee extensions at 40% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Measurements of different variables were performed before, during, and after exercise. Those included, MVC, electrically evoked twitch torque, electromyography (EMG), and rate of perceived exertion (RPE). Mean frequency (MNF), median frequency (MDF), and root mean square (RMS) were extracted from raw EMG data. Recovery (%) between sets was calculated from the change of electrically evoked twitch torque.
The effects of continuous BFR and intermittent BFR, as well as isometric exercise without BFR, exhibit similarities in terms of post-exercise neuromuscular fatigue, reduction in MVC, decrease in SMF and MMF between sets, rise in EMG activity (RMS) between and within sets, decreased potentiated twitch torque. However, they differ significantly in the reduction of twitch torque after the completion of sets (p = 0.000), the regeneration of twitch torque in the 2nd (p = 0.001) and 3rd (p = 0.037) set, and the RPE in the 2nd (p = 0.008) and 3rd (p = 0.000) set. Twitch torque reduction after sets is greater in exercises with BFR, compared to non-BFR exercise, indicating greater peripheral fatigue which is associated with hypertrophic responses through secondary mechanisms. The RPE is highest during intermittent BFR and similar between non-BFR and intermittent BFR exercise. Based on the obtained results, we conclude that all forms of exercise elicit similar responses, with a potentially greater impact on peripheral fatigue in BFR exercises. These responses may influence hypertrophy through secondary mechanisms. Considering that intermittent BFR exercise is more pleasant and less uncomfortable, we recommend its use over continuous BFR exercise.
|