The Influence of Cuff Material on the Blood Flow Restriction Stimulus in the Upper Body

Abstract

It has been suggested that the pressure used for blood flow restriction should be based on the cuff width and the size of the limb to which the pressure is applied. Cuff material (Nylon vs. Elastic) does not appear to influence the restriction stimulus to a large degree in the lower body when comparing cuffs of similar size (6cm vs. 5cm). It is presently unknown if the same is true for the upper body. PURPOSE: To examine potential differences in arterial occlusion and repetitions to fatigue using cuffs of similar size [3cm (Kaatsu Master) vs. 5cm (Hokanson)] but different material (Nylon vs. Elastic). METHODS: Fifteen participants visited the laboratory on three separate occasions. During the first, in random order, the resting arterial occlusion pressure was determined using both a 3 cm wide elastic and 5 cm wide nylon cuff applied to the most proximal portion of the upper limb. The elastic cuff was applied with an initial pressure of 30 mmHg, while the nylon cuff was applied tightly around the upper arm. Visits 2 and 3, participants completed unilateral elbow flexion exercise until volitional fatigue using 30% of their one-repetition maximum (1RM) while wearing either an elastic or nylon cuff inflated to 40% of their arterial occlusion measurement. A paired samples t test was applied to examine differences in resting and exercise occlusion pressure. A 2x4 repeated measures ANOVA was used to identify differences in repetitions to fatigue. Significance was set at p ≤ .05. RESULTS: At rest, arterial occlusion pressure was greater with the elastic cuff compared to the nylon cuff [Nylon: 139 (14) vs. Elastic: 246 (71) mmHg, p<0.001]. When exercising at 40% of each cuffs respective arterial occlusion pressure [Nylon: 57 (7) vs. Elastic: 106 (38) mmHg, p<0.001], there were no differences in repetitions to fatigue between cuffs. There was a time effect (p 2nd set > 3rd set > 4th set, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We wish to suggest that cuff material impacts resting arterial occlusion pressure in the upper body, despite using cuffs of similar size. However, making the pressure relative to the cuff produced similar repetitions to fatigue. This provides some indirect evidence that blood flow was impacted similarly during exercise when the pressure was normalized to the specific cuff.