The effect of muscle hypoperfusion-hyperemia on repetitive vertical jump performance

Alterations in skeletal muscle blood flow can greatly influence exercise performance. Brief periods of arterial hypoperfusion and subsequent hyperemia (hypoperfusion-hyperemia) have been shown to decrease the rate of skeletal muscle fatigue in a model of repeated, isometric wrist flexion exercise. However, the mechanism by which hypoperfusion-hyperemia influences dynamic motor skills remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of brief hypoperfusion-hyperemia (by femoral cuff occlusion) on repetitive vertical jump performance. Recreationally trained men and women (n = 10, mean +/- SD age, 25 +/- 2 years), performed 2 randomly assigned jumping trials, each consisting of 40 maximal effort vertical jumps. Jump height was videotaped on a Sony digital video recorder and analyzed with the Scion Images program. Trial 1 consisted of 40 vertical jumps without femoral artery occlusion. Trial 2 consisted of 40 vertical jumps preceded by femoral artery cuff occlusion for 90 seconds at 200 mm Hg, followed by 10 seconds of hyperemia before jumping. For both trials, the rate of decline in power output in men and women was approximately 20%. Hypoperfusion-hyperemia had no significant effect on vertical jumping power output, perhaps because additional muscle groups used to jump vertically (e.g., gluteals and arms) were not occluded. These results warrant further research on the effect of hypoperfusion-hyperemia on strength and power measures.