Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 May 1:9:20240017.
doi: 10.2490/prm.20240017. eCollection 2024.

Effect of One Session of Muscle Blood Flow Restriction Training Versus Normal Training on Blood Lactate Level

Affiliations

Effect of One Session of Muscle Blood Flow Restriction Training Versus Normal Training on Blood Lactate Level

Hiroji Fukuta. Prog Rehabil Med. .

Abstract

Objectives: Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) is useful for improving muscle strength. However, it involves a long training time and is unsuitable for vigorous exercise. Muscle blood flow restriction training (MBFRT), which uses multiple parallel pneumatic cuffs (MPCs) to compress large areas of the extremities and restrict blood flow, was subsequently developed to address these issues. This study compared the effects of MBFRT with normal training (NT).

Methods: Ten healthy adults underwent low-intensity MBFRT. MPC pressure was increased to 200 mmHg just before training. The exercise was a bodyweight half-squat. Three sets of 30 squats were performed. Two weeks later, the participants underwent NT with the same exercise. Blood lactate levels were measured before the start of training and at 1 and 5 min after training. The Borg index was also measured at the end of the training.

Results: The blood lactate level was elevated at 1 min after MBFRT and NT. The elevated blood lactate level was maintained at 5 min after MBFRT, whereas the lactate level was significantly decreased at 5 min after NT. The Borg index at the end of the training was significantly higher in MBFRT than in NT.

Conclusions: Lactic acid accumulates in the muscles during low-intensity MBFRT, thereby initiating type II fiber activity.

Keywords: blood lactate level; multiple parallel pneumatic cuffs; muscle; muscle blood flow restriction training.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: The author declares no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Blood flow restriction training (BFRT). The base of the limb is compressed with a single cuff. The blood flow is restricted throughout the extremity, which restricts blood flow in the muscles.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Muscle blood flow restriction training (MBFRT). Large extremities are compressed with multiple cuffs. Pressure is increased in the muscle, resulting in restricted blood flow, as in compartment syndrome.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Multiple parallel pneumatic cuffs (MPCs) comprise three parallel pneumatic cuffs connected to each other across a total width of 20 cm. The MPCs are connected to a pump and a pressure-regulating airbag.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Bodyweight half-squat exercise performed in this study. The participants held knee extensions and 90° knee flexions for 1 s each.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.
Mean blood lactate levels (n=10) before and soon after NT and MBFRT.

Similar articles

References

    1. Lexell J,Taylor CC,Sjöström M: What is the cause of the ageing atrophy? Total number, size and proportion of different fiber types studied in whole vastus lateralis muscle from 15- to 83-year-old men. J Neurol Sci 1988;84:275–294. 10.1016/0022-510X(88)90132-3 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Henneman E,Somjen G,Carpenter DO: Functional significance of cell size in spinal motoneurons. J Neurophysiol 1965;28:560–580. 10.1152/jn.1965.28.3.560 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ishihara A,Itoh K,Itoh M,Hirofuji C: Effect of hypobaric hypoxia on rat soleus muscle fibers and their innervating motoneurons: a review. Jpn J Physiol 2000;50:561–568. 10.2170/jjphysiol.50.561 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Shinohara M,Kouzaki M,Yoshihisa T,Fukunaga T: Efficacy of tourniquet ischemia for strength training with low resistance. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1997;77:189–191. 10.1007/s004210050319 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Wernbom M,Augustsson J,Raastad T: Ischemic strength training: a low‐load alternative to heavy resistance exercise? Scand J Med Sci Sports 2008;18:401–416. 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2008.00788.x - DOI - PubMed