Affiliations: Center for Physical and Health Education, Si Wan College, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Zong-Yan Cai, Center for Physical and Health Education, Si Wan College, National Sun Yat-sen University, No. 70, Lianhai Rd., Gushan Dist., Kaohsiung City 804, Taiwan. Tel.: +886 7 5252 000, ext 5872; Fax: +886 3 5255 851; E-mail: flameyan@yahoo.com.tw.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise benefits muscle performance. However, there is limited research on vascular dysfunction, particularly using involuntary muscle contraction modality plus BFR. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the acute and accumulative effects of whole body vibration (WBV) with BFR on vascular dysfunction, as evaluated by von Willebrand factor (vWF) levels. METHODS: Physically inactive men were randomly assigned to the WBV + BFR group (n= 8) and the WBV group (n= 8). Participants in the WBV group were subjected to 10 sets of internment WBV exercise 20 min/day, 3 days/week for 8 weeks. Participants in the WBV + BFR group received the same WBV treatment, but the proximal portion of the thighs was compressed by inflatable cuffs. RESULTS: The increase in vWF levels in the acute WBV + BFR group was significantly higher (P< 0.05) by 17.2% than that in the WBV group. However, vWF levels exhibited equal decrements in the two groups after training (P> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: WBV + BFR may acutely cause vascular dysfunction potential to a greater extent than WBV alone. However, regular WBV and WBV + BFR training may produce an equally beneficial effect on vascular function in a previously untrained population.
