Cardiovascular Responses to a Full Resistance Training Session Performed with and Without Blood Flow Restriction

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Sports Science

Background:

• High-intensity resistance training (RT) can impose significant cardiovascular stress.
• Blood flow restriction (BFR) is a low-load training method with potential safety and efficacy benefits, though its hemodynamic effects require clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the cardiovascular responses of high-load RT (RT_HL) versus low-load RT with BFR (RT_LL+BFR).

Main Methods:

• Nineteen trained men underwent RT_HL (70% 1RM) and RT_LL+BFR (30% 1RM) protocols.
• Key cardiovascular variables including heart rate (HR), % maximum HR (%HRmax), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and rate pressure product (RPP) were monitored.

Main Results:

• Both RT_HL and RT_LL+BFR significantly elevated HR, %HRmax, SBP, and RPP compared to baseline.
• No measured variables exceeded established safety thresholds.
• DBP showed a minor increase in both conditions without significant differences between protocols.

Conclusions:

• Exercise intensity is a key factor in hemodynamic responses during RT.
• BFR combined with low-load RT can elicit comparable cardiovascular stimuli to high-load RT.
• RT_LL+BFR presents a potentially safer alternative to traditional high-load RT.