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Post-exercise blood flow restriction attenuates muscle hypertrophy.
Scott J Dankel1, Samuel L Buckner1, Matthew B Jessee1
1Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS, 38677, USA.
European Journal of Applied Physiology
|August 3, 2016
Summary
Post-exercise blood flow restriction did not enhance muscle growth in untrained individuals. This method may even reduce muscle gains, particularly in females, contrary to expectations of metabolic accumulation.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Muscle Physiology
- Sports Science
Background:
- Blood flow restriction (BFR) during low-load resistance training is known to promote muscle hypertrophy.
- This effect is often attributed to the accumulation of metabolites during exercise.
- The impact of sustained metabolite accumulation post-exercise on muscle growth remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if maintaining metabolite accumulation through post-exercise blood flow restriction can enhance muscle growth.
- To determine the effects of BFR applied immediately after high-load resistance exercise on muscle hypertrophy.
Main Methods:
- Thirteen untrained participants (6 males, 7 females) underwent 24 training sessions.
- The experimental group performed one set of elbow flexion (70% 1RM) to fatigue, followed by 3 minutes of BFR (70% arterial occlusion).
- Muscle thickness was measured via ultrasound at 50%, 60%, and 70% of the upper limb length.
Main Results:
- Both control and experimental groups completed similar exercise volumes.
- A significant interaction showed muscle growth attenuation at the 60% site in the BFR group compared to the control group.
- Exploratory analysis indicated this attenuation primarily occurred in females.
Conclusions:
- Applying blood flow restriction immediately after high-load resistance training did not augment muscle growth in untrained individuals.
- The findings suggest that post-exercise BFR may potentially attenuate muscle growth, especially in females.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind this observed attenuation.
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