Abstract
BackgroundDuring aging, a significant loss of muscle mass, strength, and power is associated with a decline in daily functional capacities. Traditionally, resistance training is prescribed to prevent or reverse the skeletal muscle weakness, but the required training intensity may be too demanding for older people with poor physical performance. Resistance exercise with blood flow moderation (KAATSU training), originally developed in Japan, combines resistance exercise with blood flow restriction. It has been reported that KAATSU training enhances muscle hypertrophy in many populations. However, few studies have evaluated the effects of resistance exercises with blood flow restriction in elderly people and how this affects vascular structure and function.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate (1) the acute and chronic effects of resistance exercise with blood flow restriction on vascular health in elderly people with low gait speed and (2) whether low-load resistance training with blood flow restriction elicits similar strength and gait speed gains to those elicited by conventional resistance training without blood flow restriction.MethodsThis is an ongoing randomized controlled trial in elderly people with low gait speed. Overall, two study arms of 13 participants each perform resistance exercise with and without blood flow restriction. The 2 groups are as follows: the control group will perform conventional resistance exercise (60% of 1 repetition maximum) and the KAATSU group will perform the low-load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction (20% of 1 repetition maximum) for 12 weeks. Pulse wave velocity, venous occlusion plethysmography, and flow-mediated dilation are used to assess arterial stiffness, muscle blood flow, and endothelial function, respectively. The secondary outcomes are gait speed, strength, and quality of life. All measures will be performed before and after the training program.ResultsThis research study is in progress. Recruitment has started, and data collection is expected to finish in August 2020.ConclusionsThe findings of this study will have important implications for the rehabilitation of elderly people.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03272737; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03272737International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/14691
Highlights
According to the World Health Organization, many countries, including China, Thailand, and Brazil, will see an increase in the percentage of the population over 65 years, from 7% in 2000 to 14% in the 2030s [1]. This increase in the proportion of older people represents a huge challenge for health care as aging is accompanied by decrements in cardiovascular function, skeletal muscle weakness, and changes in blood coagulation, all of which have a negative impact on the functional capacity of the elderly person [2,3]
It was reported that low-intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction (BFR) may be able to induce gains in strength and muscle mass in older people [17]
Our hypotheses are that low-load resistance exercise with BFR elicits the same increase in strength and improvement in quality of life as conventional resistance training and that it has no detrimental effect on arterial stiffness, muscle blood flow, and endothelial function
Summary
According to the World Health Organization, many countries, including China, Thailand, and Brazil, will see an increase in the percentage of the population over 65 years, from 7% in 2000 to 14% in the 2030s [1]. We will investigate the effect of the 2 training modalities on arterial stiffness, muscle blood flow, endothelial function, gait speed, and muscle strength in this population. Our hypotheses are that low-load resistance exercise with BFR elicits the same increase in strength and improvement in quality of life as conventional resistance training and that it has no detrimental effect on arterial stiffness, muscle blood flow, and endothelial function. The findings of this trial may inform future recommendations for training of the elderly population.
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