Comparison of KAATSU and Traditional Resistance Training on Muscle and Blood Vessel Function in Young Men

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that low-intensity resistance training with restricted blood flow, known as "KAATSU Training", increases muscle strength and size. Its effects on blood vessel function, however, have not been examined. PURPOSE: To compare the effects of a short term KAATSU resistance training protocol and traditional high intensity resistance training on muscle strength, crosssectional area (MCSA) and blood vessel function in young untrained men. METHODS: Male volunteers were randomly assigned to either a KAATSU resistance training group (KT, n=7) or a traditional resistance training group (RT, n=7). Both KT and RT groups performed 3 weeks of resistance training for leg press (LP), knee extension (KE) and knee flexion (KF) isotonic exercises. Sessions consisted of 5-10 minutes of warm-up, followed by 2 sets of 10 reps at either 20% 1RM for the KT or 80% 1RM for RT. For the KT group, a pressure cuff was placed on the proximal end of both thighs and inflated to a pressure determined by each subject's systolic pressure. Bone free lean body mass (BFLBM) (DXA), thigh MCSA (pQCT), large (LAE) and small artery elasticity (SAE) (Pulse Contour Analysis), and muscular strength (1RM) were assessed at baseline and after training. RESULTS: At baseline, the KT group had significantly (p<0.05) higher BFLBM, body mass index, and thigh MCSA than RT. After three weeks of training, both KT and RT protocols resulted in significant increases (p<0.01) in absolute and relative strengths (strength/BFLBM) for KE and KF exercises but not for LP (p>0.05). There was a significant group x trial effect for KE with RT exhibiting greater increases than KT (15.6% vs. 5.2%). There were no significant (p>0.05) effects for BFLBM-adjusted MCSA. There were no significant effects for LAE or resting blood pressure for either training protocol. There was a trend for a group x trial effect (p=.069) for SAE with RT slightly decreasing (10.61±3.65 vs. 9.75±3.28). CONCLUSIONS: Traditional high intensity resistance training resulted in greater improvements for knee extension strength than KAATSU resistance training. There was a trend for the small arteries to become stiffer after the RT intervention, however, neither training protocol affected large artery elasticity.