Acute Impact of Different Reperfusion Duration Following Blood Flow Restriction on Bar Velocity during the Bench Press Exercise

Abstract

The main goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of different reperfusion duration following intra-conditioning blood flow restriction (BFR) on bar velocity during the bench press exercise and muscle viscoelastic properties of the triceps brachii. Eleven resistance trained males (age: 24.3 ± 4.9 years; body mass: 85.5 ± 13.2 kg; bench press 1RM: 123.6 ± 25.4 kg; training experience: 6.8 ± 5.1 years) volunteered for the study. During the experimental sessions participants performed 5 sets of 3 repetitions of the bench press exercise with a load of 60% 1RM under four different conditions: two BFR (80% AOP) and two control conditions. For the BFR conditions, cuffs were applied before each set for 4.5 min and released 30 or 60 s before the start of the set as reperfusion. Under the control conditions, BFR was not applied and the total duration of rest intervals amounted to 5 min and 5.5 min. Measurements of viscoelastic properties were conducted at baseline and immediately after completion of each set of the bench press exercise. The two-way ANOVA showed no significant condition × set interaction for mean and peak bar velocity (p = 0.93; p = 0.787; accordingly), and no main effect of condition for mean and peak bar velocity (p = 0.57; p = 0.417; accordingly). The Friedman's test showed no differences in oscillation frequency (p = 0.156), stiffness (p = 0.368), and the logarithmic decrement of tissue oscillation (p = 0.644). The results of this study indicate that BFR during rest intervals does not acutely influence mean and peak bar velocity, as well as mechanical properties of the triceps brachii regardless of the duration of reperfusion.

Keywords: athletic performance; ischemia; myotonometric assessment; occlusion; stiffness.

Figure 1

Schematic representation of the study design. BFR_60: BFR condition (4.5-min BFR + 60-s reperfusion); BFR_30: BFR condition (4.5-min BFR + 30-s reperfusion); CTRL_60: control condition (5.5-min rest interval); CTRL_30: control condition (5-min rest interval); VMP: viscoelastic muscle properties measurements; 1RM: one repetition maximum; AOP: arterial occlusion pressure

Figure 2

Mean bar velocity (m/s) during each set of the bench press exercise under experimental conditions. CTRL_30: control condition (5-min rest interval); CTRL_60: control condition (5.5-min rest interval); BFR_30: BFR condition (4.5-min BFR + 30-s reperfusion); BFR_60: BFR condition (4.5-min BFR + 60-s reperfusion)

Figure 3

Peak bar velocity (m/s) during each set of the bench press exercise under experimental conditions. CTRL_30: control condition (5-min rest interval); CTRL_60: control condition (5.5-min rest interval); BFR_30: BFR condition (4.5-min BFR + 30-s reperfusion); BFR_60: BFR condition (4.5-min BFR + 60-s reperfusion)