Effect of moderate intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction on muscle strength and girth in young adults – a randomized control trial

Tanya Gujral; Jeyanthi Subburaj; Kiran Sharma

doi:10.1515/jcim-2021-0271

Article

Effect of moderate intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction on muscle strength and girth in young adults – a randomized control trial

Tanya Gujral , Jeyanthi Subburaj and Kiran Sharma

Published/Copyright: September 27, 2021

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From the journal Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine Volume 20 Issue 3

Abstract

Objectives

To examine the effects of moderate intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction on muscle strength and forearm girth.

Methods

Total of 39 students enrolled in this study were divided into three groups that is group A (control group), group B and group C. Group A performed exercise training without restrictive pressure, group B and C performed exercise training with 50 and 75 mmHg respectively. Both the outcome measures were evaluated on day 1 and day 12th with the help of digital dynamometer and measuring tape.

Results

Repeated measure ANOVA with Post hoc analysis was done using SPSS software version 20. The result of the study showed significant (p≤0.05) within subject improvement in muscle strength and muscle girth in all the three groups. However, significant improvement in muscle strength was found in between group analysis (p≤0.05).

Conclusions

The results of the study can be concluded as the partial blood flow restriction (50 mmHg) with moderate intensity resistance training resulted in greater handgrip strength than the other two groups. No difference was found in forearm girth among the three groups, however within the group difference was found.

Highlights

The high resistance training improves muscle strength and endurance but it also produces high load on joints. In an attempt to find an alternative to conventional high resistance training, blood flow restriction is combined with resistance training.
But there is lack of literature regarding the optimal vascular occlusion pressure for muscle strength and hypertrophy.
This study explores the effect of moderate intensity training with blood flow restriction at different pressures (0, 50, 75 mmHg) and to find the ideal pain free cuff pressure for attaining good muscle strength and hypertrophy.

Keywords: blood flow restriction training; forearm girth; handgrip; moderate intensity exercise

Corresponding author: Dr. Tanya Gujral (PT), Assistant Professor, Physiotherapy Department, SMAS, Galgotias University, Gautam Budh Nagar, Noida, UP, India, Phone: +91 9311020220, E-mail: physiotanyag@gmail.com

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all the participants who participated in this research study.

Research funding: None declared.
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.
Ethical approval: The study received ethical approval from Institutional Review Board (IRB) with CTRI (registration number CTRI/2019/08/020497).

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Received: 2021-06-26

Accepted: 2021-09-07

Published Online: 2021-09-27

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2021-0271

Keywords for this article

blood flow restriction training; forearm girth; handgrip; moderate intensity exercise