Blood flow restriction late in recovery after heavy resistance exercise hampers muscle recuperation

This study aimed to examine the effect of acute blood flow restriction during the late recovery phase between two resistance exercise bouts on muscular endurance and oxygenation.

Amateur male middle- and long-distance runners performed two bouts of one-leg dynamic plantar flexion exercise to failure with the load equivalent to 75% of maximum. Subjects were randomly assigned into two experimental groups with thigh occlusion pressure between bouts at either 120 or 200 mmHg with 20 min of passive rest in between, and two control groups without any blood flow restriction separated by either 5 or 20 min of rest. Blood flow restriction in the experimental groups was implemented during the last 15 min of recovery. Calf arterial blood flow and muscle oxygenation were measured by venous occlusion plethysmography and near-infrared spectroscopy, respectively.

Decrease of muscular oxygenation and blood flow during recovery between exercise bouts depended on the applied occlusion pressure. When compared with bout 1, work capacity in the experimental groups during bout 2 was reduced by 9.3 ± 2.2% with 120 mmHg and by 10.5 ± 3.1% (p < 0.05) with 200 mmHg occlusion pressure. In the control groups, work capacity was restored after 20 min (- 3.9 ± 3.2%, p > 0.05) but not after 5-min recovery (- 20.0 ± 1.8%, p < 0.05).

Blood flow restriction late in recovery after a heavy resistance exercise bout decreased muscle oxygenation and work capacity during the subsequent heavy resistance exercise bout.