Moderate-intensity exercise with blood flow restriction on cardiopulmonary kinetics and efficiency during a subsequent high-intensity exercise in young women A cross-sectional study

Blood flow restriction (BFR) training applied prior to a subsequent exercise has been used as a method to induce changes in oxygen uptake pulmonary kinetics (VO2P) and exercise performance. However, the effects of a moderate-intensity training associated with BFR on a subsequent high-intensity exercise on VO2P and cardiac output (Q(T)) kinetics, exercise tolerance, and efficiency remain unknown. This prospective physiologic study was performed at the Exercise Physiology Lab, University of Brasilia. Ten healthy females (mean +/- SD values: age = 21.3 +/- 2.2 years; height = 1.6 +/- 0.07 m, and weight = 55.6 +/- 8.8 kg) underwent moderate-intensity training associated with or without BFR for 6 minutes prior to a maximal high-intensity exercise bout. VO2P, heart rate, and Q(T) kinetics and gross efficiency were obtained during the high-intensity constant workload exercise test. No differences were observed in VO2P, heart rate, and Q(T) kinetics in the subsequent high-intensity exercise following BFR training. However, exercise tolerance and gross efficiency were significantly greater after BFR (220 +/- 45 vs 136 +/- 30 seconds; P < .05, and 32.8 +/- 6.3 vs 27.1 +/- 5.4%; P < .05, respectively), which also resulted in lower oxygen cost (1382 +/- 227 vs 1695 +/- 305 mL min(-1)). We concluded that moderate-intensity BFR training implemented prior to a high-intensity protocol did not accelerate subsequent VO2P and Q(T) kinetics, but it has the potential to improve both exercise tolerance and work efficiency at high workloads.

Automated summary

Moderate-intensity BFR training prior to a high-intensity exercise did not accelerate subsequent VO2P and Q(T) kinetics, but significantly improved exercise tolerance and work efficiency, resulting in lower oxygen cost.