Research Article

Effects Of Acute Blood Flow Restrictive Bicep Curl Exercise On Arterial Stiffness

Published: 2024-10

Journal: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

DOI: 10.1249/01.mss.0001052868.70990.0c

Abstract

B-22 Free Communication/Poster – Vascular Function in Health Effects Of Acute Blood Flow Restrictive Bicep Curl Exercise On Arterial Stiffness 177 Ruffhead, Campbell1; Rolnick, Nicholas2; Taylor, Susannah1; Marquette, Lisa1; Fedorko, Brent1; Walters, Jessica1; Werner, Tim FACSM1 Author Information 1 Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD. 2 Lehman College, New York, NY. (Sponsor: Tim Werner, FACSM) Email: cruffhead1@gulls.salisbury.edu (No relevant relationships reported) Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 56(10S):p 44, October 2024. | DOI: 10.1249/01.mss.0001052868.70990.0c Free Metrics The use of blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise in athletic and clinical settings has increased in the last five years. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of autoregulated (AR) and non-autoregulated (NAR) BFR biceps curl exercise on arterial stiffness. AR BFR cuffs adjust pressure as the muscle undergoes concentric and eccentric contractions, maintaining a constant pressure in the limb throughout the entire range of motion. NAR BFR training cuffs do not adjust pressure throughout the range of motion thus causing greater pressures in the limb during concentric contraction when the muscle size is enlarged. How this exercise acutely impacts arterial stiffness in upper body exercise is not well understood. METHODS: Following a randomized familiarization period with AR or NAR BFR biceps curl exercise, 33 adults (20 ± 2 years; 11 females) participated in 3 randomized sessions with AR-BFR, NAR-BFR, and no-BFR (no cuffs) separated by 1-week washout periods. Using 20% of the 1 repetition maximum (1-RM) with 2-second concentric/eccentric cadence, participants performed 4 sets of biceps curls to failure. Training limb occlusion pressure (LOP) was set at 60% of supine LOP for both BFR sessions. Measurements before and immediately following the training session included blood pressure acquisition, arterial tonometry, and ultrasonography of the carotid artery. Between and within effects of treatment on central systolic blood pressure (cSBP), central diastolic BP (cDBP), central pulse pressure (cPP), central mean arterial pressure (cMAP), pulse wave velocity (PWV), beta-stiffness index (β-stiff), and arterial compliance (AC) were analyzed with two-way ANOVAs. RESULTS: There were no baseline differences in variable of interest (all p > 0.05). cDBP increased posted exercise in all three groups (AR-BFR mean difference (MD) = 7 ± 1 mmHg, p < 0.01; NAR-BFR MD = 6 ± 1 mmHg, p < 0.01; no BFR MD = 5 ± 1 mmHg, p < 0.01). And there was a non-significant trend in β-stiff (MD = 1.25 ± 0.46 au, p = 0.07) and AC (MD = -0.3 ± 0.1 mm2/mmHg x 10-1, p = 0.07) with the no BFR treatment. CONCLUSION: The present findings show acute AR-BFR and NAR-BFR bicep training did not impact arterial stiffness. Copyright © 2024 by the American College of Sports Medicine View full article text

Faculty Members

  • Tim Werner - Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD.
  • Jessica Walters - Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD.
  • Lisa Marquette - Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD.
  • Nicholas Rolnick - Lehman College, New York, NY. (Sponsor: Tim Werner, FACSM)
  • Brent Fedorko - Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD.
  • Campbell Ruffhead - Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD.
  • Susannah Taylor - Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD.

Themes

  • Arterial Stiffness
  • Comparative Effectiveness of Training Methods
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Exercise

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