Effects of strength training with continuous or intermittent blood flow restriction on the hypertrophy, muscular strength and endurance of men

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of strength training (ST) with continuous or intermittent blood flow restriction (BFR) on the muscle hypertrophy (MH), dynamic muscle strength (DMS), isometric muscle strength (IMS) and localized muscular endurance (LME) of healthy men. Twenty-five men with experience in ST were randomly divided into 3 experimental groups: a) 4 low-load exercises at 20% of the one-repetition maximum (1RM) combined with continuous BFR (LL+CBFR), b) 4 low-load exercises at 20% of 1RM combined with intermittent BFR (LL+IBFR); and c) 4 low-load exercises at 20% of 1RM without BFR (LL). Twelve sessions of ST were performed (twice a week for 6 weeks). There were no differences between groups for all variables (p > 0.05). However, there were significant differences in time for the LME in the triceps pulley only in the LL+CBFR group (p < 0.001) and in the biceps pulley in the groups LL+CBFR, LL+IBFR and LL (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, p = 0.032), respectively, with large magnitudes only for the two forms of the BFR. It can be concluded that continuous or intermittent BFR seems to be a good alternative for the increase of the LME of the upper limbs in single-joint exercises.