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. 2024 Dec 19:97:101-114.
doi: 10.5114/jhk/193490. eCollection 2025 Apr.

Effects of Elastic Bands, Kaatsu Cuffs, and Clinical Cuffs on the Brachial Blood Flow during Elbow Flexion Exercise

Rodrigo Volga Fernandes  1 , Roque Santos de Oliveira  1 , Luciana Diniz Nagem Janot de Matos  2 , Alexandra Passos Gaspar  2 , Gilberto Laurentino  1
Affiliations

Effects of Elastic Bands, Kaatsu Cuffs, and Clinical Cuffs on the Brachial Blood Flow during Elbow Flexion Exercise

Rodrigo Volga Fernandes et al. J Hum Kinet. .

Abstract

The elastic band (EB) may be an alternative for restricting the blood flow compared to the Kaatsu and clinical cuffs (KA and CC, respectively). However, the impact of the EB, the KA, and the CC on the blood flow during exercise remains uncertain. This study examined the blood flow (BF), the diameter of the brachial artery (DA), and blood flow velocity (BFV) during elbow flexion exercises using the KA, the CC, and the EB. Twenty-six resistance-trained men (age: 30.7 ± 8.7 years, body mass: 80.7 ± 15.5 kg, body height: 175.7 ± 6.5 cm) completed four sets of 15 repetitions of unilateral elbow flexion exercise at 20% 1RM. All protocols were set to the same perceived tightness (PT) based on Kaatsu optimal pressure (KOP). The BF, BFV and the DA were assessed at baseline, at KOP, and during the exercise sets. The BF and BFV were significantly reduced from baseline to KOP when the KA (67%, ES: 1.4, p = 0.0002; 24%, ES: 1.9, p < 0.0001) and the CC (70%, ES: 1.7, p < 0.0001; 31%, ES: 1.6, p < 0.0001) were applied, yet not the EB (49%, ES: 1.1, p = 0.103; 17%, ES: 0.7, p = 0.123). The BF and BFV increased from KOP to the fourth exercise set in all protocols with the KA (409%, ES: 2.4, p < 0.0001; 37.5 %, ES: 1.7, p = 0.007), the CC (377%, ES: 2.0, p < 0.0001; 55%, ES: 1.3, p < 0.0001) and the EB (411%, ES: 2.9, p < 0.0001; 43%, ES: 1.3, p = 0.002), respectively, with no significant difference between them (p > 0.05). The DA remained unchanged after all protocols (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the EB showed similar blood flow behavior compared to pressure-controlled cuffs.

Keywords: blood flow restriction therapy; blood flow velocity; ischemia; regional blood flow; resistance training.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A: Blood flow values (ml/min) [mean ± SD], with the Kaatsu cuff, the clinical cuff and the elastic band at baseline, Kaatsu optimal pressure, sets 1 to 4, and 5 min post-exercise. B, C and D: Individual values of the blood flow (ml/min) from baseline to KOP. * indicates a significant difference from baseline (p < 0.05) # indicates a significant difference from KOP (p < 0.05) KOP: Kaatsu optimal pressure
Figure 2
Figure 2
A to L: Individual values of the blood flow (ml/min) for the Kaatsu cuff, the clinical cuff, and the elastic band at sets 1, 2, 3, and 4. * indicates a significant difference from KOP (p < 0.05) KOP: Kaatsu optimal pressure
Figure 3
Figure 3
A: Blood flow velocity values (cm/s) [mean ± SD], with the Kaatsu cuff, the clinical cuff and the elastic band at baseline, KOP, sets 1 to 4, and 5 min post-exercise. B, C, and D: Individual values of blood flow velocity (cm/s) from baseline to KOP. * indicates a significant difference from baseline (p < 0.05) # indicates a significant difference from KOP (p < 0.05) KOP: Kaatsu optimal pressure
Figure 4
Figure 4
A: Diameter of the brachial artery values (cm) [mean ± SD], with the Kaatsu cuff, the clinical cuff and the elastic band at baseline, KOP, sets 1 to 4, and 5 min post-exercise. B, C and D: Individual values of the diameter of the brachial artery (cm) from baseline to KOP (p < 0.05). KOP: Kaatsu optimal pressure
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