Low-load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction versus high-load resistance exercise on hamstring muscle adaptations in recreationally trained men

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

2024

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

NSCA National Strength and Conditioning Association

Access Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess

Abstract

Kamis‚, O, G ¨urses, VV, S‚ endur, HN, Altunsoy, M, Pekel, HA, Yıldırım, E, and Aydos, L. Low-load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction vs. high-load resistance exercise on hamstring muscle adaptations in recreationally trained men. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2024—Low-load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction (BFR-RE) has been suggested as a viable alternative exercise for traditional high-load resistance exercise (HL-RE). However, very little is known about hamstring muscle thickness, stiffness, and strength after BFR-RE. This study aimed to compare the effects of 6 weeks of BFR-RE and HL-RE on hamstring muscle thickness, stiffness, and strength. Twenty-nine recreationally trained men were pair matched and randomly assigned to the BFR-RE (n 5 15) and HL-RE (n 5 14) groups. The BFR-RE groups performed bilateral lying leg curl exercise (30-15-15-15 reps, 30- second rest between the sets, 30% 1RM) with BFR cuffs (60% of limb occlusion pressure), whereas HL-RE performed the same exercise (3 3 12 reps, 90-second rest between the sets, 70% 1RM) without BFR cuffs. Hamstring muscle thickness, muscle stiffness, isokinetic muscle strength, and 1RM were assessed at baseline and follow-up after completing a 6-week resistance exercise program (33 a week). Hamstring muscle thickness was assessed by ultrasonography, whereas muscle stiffness was evaluated by shear wave elastography. Isokinetic dynamometry and a 1RM strength test were used to determine muscular strength before and after the exercise program. Statistical significance was set at p , 0.05. No significant effect was found for hamstring muscle strength, thickness, and stiffness for group and group 3 time interaction, and only a significant main effect of time (p , 0.001) was observed for all outcomes. Both groups experienced significant improvements for all outcomes from baseline to followup without any between-group differences. In conclusion, results revealed that BFR-RE can provide similar hamstring muscle strength, thickness, and stiffness compared with HL-RE.

Description

Keywords

Hypertrophy, Muscle Stiffness, Shear Wave Elastography, Strength, Vascular Occlusion

Journal or Series

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

WoS Q Value

Scopus Q Value

Q1

Volume

Issue

Citation