The acute and early phase effects of blood flow restriction training on ratings of perceived exertion, performance fatigability, and muscular strength in women
Affiliations: [a] Department of Health, Kinesiology and Sport, College of Education, University of South Alabama, AL, USA | [b] Division of Kinesiology, School of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA | [c] Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA | [d] Human and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Joshua L. Keller, Department of Health, Kinesiology and Sport, College of Education, University of South Alabama, AL, USA. E-mail: jkeller@southalabama.edu.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Blood flow restriction (BFR) resistance training (RT) has garnered recent interest, but female-specific data remains scarce. OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to examine the effects of 2-wks of low-load concentric, isokinetic, reciprocal forearm flexion and extension training, with and without BFR on perceptual responses, performance fatigability, and muscular strength. METHODS: Twenty women were assigned to a BFRT or a non-BFRT group. Each group trained at 30% of concentric peak moment. Each session consisted of 75 concentric, isokinetic, reciprocal forearm flexion extension muscle actions. RPEs were recorded following each set. Pretest and posttest maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) force was measured, and percent decline was defined as performance fatigability. RESULTS: The RPE values (p< 0.05) increased across sets. Strength (collapsed across muscle action) increased (p< 0.05) from 0-wk (23.7 ± 3.2 Nm) to 2-wk (26.8 ± 2.7 Nm). Independent of group and muscle action, performance fatigability (p< 0.05) increased from 0-wk (10.9 ± 5.0%) to 2-wk (14.1 ± 4.4%). CONCLUSIONS: 2-wks of low-load concentric, reciprocal forearm flexion and extension training resulted in similar training-induced changes in perceptual responses, performance fatigability, and muscular strength between BFRT and non-BFRT. These findings may reduce concerns of increased perceptual responses following BFRRT compared to non-BFRRT.
