Impact Of Traditional Blood Flow Restriction Versus Band Tissue Flossing On Metabolism And Performance

Abstract

Blood flow restriction during resistance exercise (BFR + RE) increases metabolic stress and muscle fiber recruitment, elevating fatigue even at low resistance loads. Band tissue flossing (BTF) is a method for BFR in which an elastic band wraps around the limb. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of BTF to BFR during RE on changes in glucose, lactate, and total work performed. METHODS: Fifteen apparently healthy subjects (25 ± 1.2 yrs) visited the lab for three sessions separated by at least 72 hours. Each session involved 3 sets of 20 max-effort seated leg extensions and flexions on an isokinetic dynamometer with one of three randomized conditions: control (CON), BFR, or BTF. During BFR and BTF sessions, occlusion was applied immediately before exercise and removed immediately after collecting post- blood. Glucose and lactate measurements were collected pre- and immediately post-exercise. Total work performed was recorded during each extension and analyzed for between-condition differences. RESULTS: Only CON and BTF conditions resulted in significantly lower glucose immediately post-exercise compared to pre- (mean change: CON = -11.0 ± 13.5 and BTF = -10.31 ± 10.9 mg/dL). However, no significant differences in mean change in glucose were found between any conditions. In all conditions, blood lactate post-exercise was significantly greater than pre- (mean change: CON = 3.5 ± 0.6, BFR = 3.4 ± 0.5, BTF = 3.4 ± 0.6 mmol/L), again with no between-condition differences in mean change. Total work performed during set 1 was not significantly different between conditions. During set 2, significantly less work was performed in BFR (p = 0.046; 1024.9 ± 96.9 ft-lbs) and BTF (p = 0.004; 865.1 ± 118.2 ft-lbs) when compared to CON (1182.0 ± 115.6 ft-lbs). During set 3, significantly less work was again performed in the BTF condition (p < 0.001; 663.1 ± 333.7 ft-lbs) when compared to CON (1050.7 ± 325.8 ft-lbs). CONCLUSIONS: Application of an occluding device, whether BFR or BTF, results in significantly less work done than without occlusion. Despite the decrease in work, BFR and BTF + RE result in similar increases in lactate and uptake of glucose than CON. This suggests both BTF and BFR are effective for achieving significant metabolite production during RE via lesser amounts of work.