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Haemodynamics of aerobic and resistance blood flow restriction exercise in young and older adults

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Abstract

Purpose

Light-load blood flow restriction exercise (BFRE) may provide a novel training method to limit the effects of age-related muscle atrophy in older adults. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the haemodynamic response to resistance and aerobic BFRE between young adults (YA; n = 11; 22 ± 1 years) and older adults (OA; n = 13; 69 ± 1 years).

Method

On two occasions, participants completed BFRE or control exercise (CON). One occasion was leg press (LP; 20 % 1-RM) and the other was treadmill walking (TM; 4 km h−1). Haemodynamic responses (HR, \(\dot{Q}\), SV and BP) were recorded during baseline and exercise.

Result

At baseline, YA and OA were different for some haemodynamic parameters (e.g. BP, SV). The relative responses to BFRE were similar between YA and OA. Blood pressures increased more with BFRE, and also for LP over TM. \(\dot{Q}\) increased similarly for BFRE and CON (in both LP and TM), but with elevated HR and reduced SV (TM only).

Conclusion

While BFR conferred slightly greater haemodynamic stress than CON, this was lower for walking than leg-press exercise. Given similar response magnitudes between YA and OA, these data support aerobic exercise being a more appropriate BFRE for prescription in older adults that may contribute to limiting the effects of age-related muscle atrophy.

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Abbreviations

BFRE:

Blood flow restriction exercise

HLRE:

Heavy load resistance exercise

LLRE:

Light load resistance exercise

YA:

Young adults

OA:

Older adults

BFR:

Blood flow restriction exercise bout

CON:

Control exercise bout

LP:

Leg-press trial

TM:

Treadmill walking trial

LOP:

Limb occlusion pressure

1-RM:

One repetition maximum

BP:

Blood pressure

HR:

Heart rate

APHRmax :

Age-predicted maximum heart rate

\(\dot{Q}\) :

Cardiac output

SV:

Stroke volume

MAP:

Mean arterial pressure

sBP:

Systolic blood pressure

dBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

TPR:

Total peripheral resistance

DP:

Double product

RPE:

Rating of perceived exertion

RPP:

Rating of perceived pain

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported only by local funds made available by the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia.

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Correspondence to Stuart A. Warmington.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Communicated by Carsten Lundby.

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Staunton, C.A., May, A.K., Brandner, C.R. et al. Haemodynamics of aerobic and resistance blood flow restriction exercise in young and older adults. Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 2293–2302 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3213-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3213-x

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