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Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People
Published on: July 5, 2017
Low-intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction improves vascular endothelial function and peripheral
Ryosuke Shimizu1, Kazuki Hotta2, Shuhei Yamamoto1,3
1Department of Angiology and Cardiology, Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, 252-0373, Japan.
Purpose:
The present study aimed to investigate the effects of low-intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction (BFR resistance training) on vascular endothelial function and peripheral blood circulation.
Methods:
Forty healthy elderly volunteers aged 71 ± 4 years were divided into two training groups. Twenty subjects performed BFR resistance training (BFR group), and the remaining 20 performed ordinary resistance training without BFR. Resistance training was performed at 20 % of each estimated one-repetition maximum for 4 weeks. We measured lactate (Lac), norepinephrine (NE), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and growth hormone (GH) before and after the initial resistance training. The reactive hyperemia index (RHI), von Willebrand factor (vWF) and transcutaneous oxygen pressure in the foot (Foot-tcPO2) were assessed before and after the 4-week resistance training period.
Results:
Lac, NE, VEGF and GH increased significantly from 8.2 ± 3.6 mg/dL, 619.5 ± 243.7 pg/mL, 43.3 ± 15.9 pg/mL and 0.9 ± 0.7 ng/mL to 49.2 ± 16.1 mg/dL, 960.2 ± 373.7 pg/mL, 61.6 ± 19.5 pg/mL and 3.1 ± 1.3 ng/mL, respectively, in the BFR group (each P < 0.01). RHI and Foot-tcPO2 increased significantly from 1.8 ± 0.2 and 62.4 ± 5.3 mmHg to 2.1 ± 0.3 and 68.9 ± 5.8 mmHg, respectively, in the BFR group (each P < 0.01). VWF decreased significantly from 175.7 ± 20.3 to 156.3 ± 38.1 % in the BFR group (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
BFR resistance training improved vascular endothelial function and peripheral blood circulation in healthy elderly people.
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