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Blood Flow Restriction during Walking Does Not Impact Body Composition or Performance Measures in Highly Trained
Ashley A Herda1,2, Christopher J Cleary1, Dana Young2
1Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66046, USA.
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
|April 23, 2024
Summary
Four weeks of low-intensity walking with blood flow restriction (BFR) did not significantly alter body composition or running performance in active adults. More intense or prolonged BFR exposure may be needed for noticeable adaptations.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Rehabilitation
Background:
- Blood flow restriction (BFR) training is recognized for enhancing muscle size and function.
- Its application in conjunction with low-volume, low-intensity exercise warrants investigation for performance benefits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a 4-week walking program, with or without blood flow restriction (BFR), on body composition and running performance in healthy, active adults.
- To compare different BFR protocols within a walking exercise framework.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-three active adults were randomized into three groups: walking without BFR, walking with BFR (intermittent), or continuous walking with BFR.
- Participants underwent assessments for body composition, anaerobic capacity (40-yard sprint), and aerobic capacity (VO2MAX test) before and after the 4-week intervention.
- Exercise involved five sets of 2-minute walking intervals with 1-minute rest, or 10 minutes of continuous walking with BFR.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in body composition or performance metrics (sprints, VO2MAX) were observed among the groups or over time (p > 0.05).
- A significant increase in VO2 at the V-slope threshold was noted across all groups combined post-training (p = 0.001), suggesting a general improvement in aerobic efficiency.
- The specific BFR protocols combined with low-volume walking did not yield significant changes in the measured outcomes for this active population.
Conclusions:
- A 4-week low-volume, low-intensity walking program incorporating blood flow restriction (BFR) is insufficient to induce significant changes in body composition or running performance in active adults.
- To achieve adaptations, a greater stimulus, such as longer duration or more isolated BFR application to the limbs, may be necessary.
- Further research should explore dose-response relationships for BFR in various exercise modalities and populations.
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