Muscle damage responses to resistance exercise performed with high-load versus low-load associated with partial blood flow restriction in young women

Author(s)

Alvarez, Ieda Fernanda ^[1] ; Damas, Felipe ^[1] ; Pires de Biazon, Thais Marina ^[1] ; Miquelini, Maiara ^[1] ; Doma, Kenji ^[2] ; Libardi, Cleiton Augusto ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Phys Educ, MUSCULAB Lab Neuromuscular Adaptat Resistance Tra, Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] James Cook Univ, Coll Healthcare Sci, Townsville, Qld - Australia

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: European Journal of Sport Science; v. 20, n. 1 MAY 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare if an acute exercise session of high-load resistance training (HL-RT, e.g. 70% of 1 repetition-maximum, 1 RM) induces a higher magnitude of muscle damage compared with a RT protocol with low-loads (e.g. 20% 1 RM) associated with partial blood flow restriction (LL-BFR), and investigate the recovery in the days after the protocols. We used an unilateral crossover research design in which 10 young women (22(2) y; 162(5) cm; 66(11) kg) performed HL-RT and LL-BFR in a randomized, counterbalanced manner with a minimum interval of 2 weeks between protocols. Indirect muscle damage markers were evaluated before and once a day for 4 days into recovery. Main results showed decreases of 8-12% at 24-48 h in maximal voluntary isometric and concentric contraction torques (P < 0.03), and changes in muscle architecture markers (P < 0.03) for HL-RT and LL-BFR, with no differences between protocols (P > 0.05). Moreover, delayed onset muscle soreness increased only after LL-BFR (P < 0.001). We conclude that an acute bout of low volume HL-RT or LL-BFR to failure resulted in edema-induced muscle swelling, but do not induce major or long-lasting decrements in muscle function and the level of soreness promoted from LL-BFR was mild. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/24259-1 - Human biological individuality versus resistance-training variables modulation: what really matters for muscle hypertrophy?
• Grantee: Felipe Romano Damas Nogueira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 13/21218-4 - The role of the magnitude of muscle damage in hypertrophic responses
• Grantee: Cleiton Augusto Libardi
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/13064-0 - Individual muscle protein synthesis responses to the modulation of resistance training variables
• Grantee: Felipe Romano Damas Nogueira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor