Blood Flow Restriction Improves Vascular Circulation

SMSU Event Center BC

Purpose - The present study aimed to investigate the effects of low-intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction (BFR resistance training) on vascular endothelial function and peripheral blood circulation. Methods - Forty healthy elderly volunteers aged 71 ± 4 years were divided into two training groups. Twenty subjects performed BFR resistance training (BFR group), and the remaining 20 performed ordinary resistance training without BFR. Resistance training was performed at 20 % of each estimated one-repetition maximum for 4 weeks. Measurements were taken for lactate (Lac), norepinephrine (NE), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and growth hormone (GH) before and after the initial resistance training. Results - Lac, NE, VEGF and GH increased significantly from 8.2 ± 3.6 mg/dLm, 619.5 ± 243.7 pg/mL, 43.3 ±15.9 pg/mL, and 0.9 ± 0.7 ng/mL to 49.2 ± 16.1 mg/dL, 960.2 ±373.7 pg/mL, 61.6 ± 19.5 pg/mL and 3.1 ± 1.3 ng/mL, respectively, in the BFR group (each P < 0.01). RHI and Foot-tcPO2 increased significantly from 1.8 ± 0.2 and 62.4 ± 5.3 mmHg to 2.1 ± 0.3 and 68.9 ± 5.8 mmHg, respectively, in the BFR group (each P < 0.01). VWF decreased significantly from 175.7 ± 20.3 to 156.3 ± 38.1% in the BFR group (P < 0.05).