Blood Flow Restriction Training During A Dynamic Warm-Up And Its Effects On Various Sprint Times

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) during a dynamic warm-up on a 25, 50, and 100-meter run time, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and heart rate (HR) in recreational athletes. METHODS: Fourteen participants (22.3 ± 1.8 years) volunteered to participate in this cross-over study. Participants were randomly assigned to either the BFR or control group during their first trial, then completed the other trial seven days (± 1 day) later. During the BFR training intervention, the cuffs were placed on the proximal thigh at the level of the gluteal fold and were inflated to 80% of the participants’ limb occlusion pressure (LOP), which was assessed prior to participation. Participants completed a five-minute dynamic warm-up wearing the blood flow restriction cuffs, and the same dynamic warm-up was completed during the control intervention without the use of the cuffs. After each warm-up, a three-minute revascularization period was provided before participants ran a 100-meter sprint at maximal effort, in which 25, 50, and 100-meter times were recorded. Heart rate was measured throughout the entirety of the study, and RPE was measured immediately after the sprint for both trials. Time measures, RPE scores, and heart rate were compared using a paired samples t-test (α < .05). RESULTS: There were no significant differences between control and BFR sprint times, post warm-up HR, or post run HR. There was a significant difference between the control and BFR RPE scores (3.14 ± .66 vs. 4.79 ± 1.42, p < .001). CONCLUSION: There is currently minimal evidence investigating the acute effects of BFR. Based on our results, there were no significant differences in sprint times between the control and BFR trials. RPE scores during the BFR trial were significantly higher than the control, indicating that participants felt the intensity of the BFR trial was more difficult although the times did not vary. Although not statistically different, average heart rates in the BFR trial were lowered by up to nine beats per minute compared with the control. This may be attributed to the perceived difficulty of the BFR trial as participants possibly could not exert themselves as much as when completing the control trial. These results do not support acute use of BFR to increase short-term performance, but more research should be performed.