Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of eight weeks of elastic band resistance training (EBRT) program associated with practical blood flow restriction (BFR) on muscle strength and hypertrophy. Fourteen physically active male participated in an eight-week upper limbs EBRT program, with one limb under BFR and the other with free blood flow (EBRT+BFR). Bilateral and unilateral elbow flexion exercises were performed three times a week, with three sets of 15 repetitions in each upper limb. Blood flow restriction was produced by an extensive band, implementing the pressure stipulated at 25% of the resting upper arm circumference. Significant main effect for time was found in elbow flexors muscle thickness measured with ultrasound to both training conditions, but no significant interactions in the time x group were identified. Relative strength gains measure with a dynamometer were -0.5 ± 10.2 % and 0.5 ± 12.1 % in the arms trained with EBRT and EBRT+BFR, respectively. The relative gains in elbow flexor muscle thickness were 1.8 ± 6.2 % with EBRT training and 5.5 ± 6.7 % in EBRT+BFR (both p > .05). In conclusion, applying BFR to an EBRT was not superior at increasing upper limb muscular strength or hypertrophy in young adults compared to EBRT alone.
Published Version
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