Abstract
This study investigated the role of muscle metaboreflex on cardiovascular responses to submaximal resistance exercise using different pressures and modes of blood flow restriction. Fifty-three adults completed six visits. The first visit involved a performance test (2 sets of unilateral knee extension exercise until task failure at 30% 1RM) with continuous blood flow restriction (80% arterial occlusion pressure). In subsequent visits, participants performed 1) a non-exercise control (Control), 70% of the repetitions completed in the performance test with the cuff inflated to 2) continuously 80% arterial occlusion (LL+80%), 3) continuously 40% arterial occlusion (LL+40%), 4) intermittently 80% arterial occlusion during exercise (LL+80%Int), and 5) 0 mmHg (LL), in a randomized order. Three minutes of post-exercise circulatory occlusion was employed to assess the muscle metaboreflex activation. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured at various time points. The pre-post increase in systolic blood pressure was not greater with LL+80%Int (p=0.987) but was greater with LL+80% and LL+40% (LL+80%>LL+40%, p=0.005) than LL by 7 [95%CI: 4, 9] and 4 [95%CI; 2, 6] mmHg, respectively. Heart rate increased only with LL+80% over LL and Control (p<0.001). The changes in systolic blood pressure (p>0.468) and heart rate (p>0.543) did not differ among exercise conditions from immediate post-exercise to the end of the circulatory occlusion. Systolic/diastolic blood pressure returned to a similar level as Control (~120 mmHg, ~70 mmHg, respectively) immediately after the cuff deflation. Continuous blood flow restriction, especially with higher pressure, accentuates muscle metaboreflex activation, resulting in amplified cardiovascular responses to the exercise.
Published Version
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