Effects of Resistance Training with Blood Restriction on Flow-Mediated Dilatation of Braquial Artery in Elderly

Abstract

Endothelial function is one of the early markers of atherosclerosis and thus consecutively of cardiovascular disease risks. Brachial Artery Flow-Mediated Dilatation (DILA) is an indicator of endothelial function that can be obtained by a non-invasive technique. Physical exercise is a non-pharmacological therapy that has the benefit of homeostasis of endothelial function. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of resistance training with restriction of blood flow on endothelial function and total occlusion pressure in elderly. METHODS: The elderly were invited to participate of the study in the written informed consent term. We selected 37 elderly women who were divided into 3 groups (placebo control (C), 60% restriction of blood flow (R60) and 80% restriction of blood flow (R80)), and were submitted to the DILA protocol, which is a test that verifies the total artery occlusion pressure through an ultrasound and an inflatable cuff, with endothelial control function and the total vascular occlusion pressure, so that the training pressure restriction is determined. All were submitted to a maximum load protocol (1RM), to determine the training load (20% of 1RM) with blood flow with duration of 8 weeks. Comparison of data was done through two-way ANOVA. RESULTS: Significant differences were found only in the group that trained with 60% blood flow restriction when compared to all groups in the post-training (C: 0.0213±0.0160 cm vs. R60: 0.0503±0.0180*cm vs. R80: 0.0306±0.0200 cm, *p≤0.05) and and with pre-training of group R60 (0.0190±0.0135 cm vs. 0.0503±0.0180* cm *p≤0.05). In occlusion pressure, the group which trained with 60% of flow restriction had a difference significant before and after the training R60 (186.67±10.33 mmHg vs. 156.66±16.32* mmHg, *p≤0.05). CONCLUSION: Resistance training with blood flow restriction is able to increase brachial artery dilatation and reduce the pressure of occlusion in elderly women who trained with 60% blood flow restriction.