Int J Sports Med 2019; 40(03): 186-190
DOI: 10.1055/a-0828-8295
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Different Percentages of Blood Flow Restriction on Energy Expenditure

Patrick de Souza Pfeiffer
1   Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
,
Maria Socorro Cirilo-Sousa
2   Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
,
Heleodório Honorato dos Santos
3   Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted 10 December 2018

Publication Date:
31 January 2019 (online)

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Abstract

The study aimed to analyze the effect of different levels of blood flow restriction (BFR) on energy expenditure (EE) and subjective perceptions of discomfort (SPD) during aerobic exercises. A sample group of 24 young men was required to walk on a treadmill for 14 min at 40% of their maximum speed, with 4 different percentages of BFR (0, 50, 80 and 100%) applied in the lower limbs (LL) once a week with a 7-day interval between the 4 evaluations. EE data were collected during the exercise periods; SPD data were collected after the exercises. There was a significant increase in EE at 50, 80 and 100% BFR compared to the condition without BFR, and between 50 and 100% BFR; however, there were no differences between 50 and 80% and 80 and 100% BFR. Discomfort showed a significant increase according to the increase in BFR. During the walking exercises with BFR, the EE strongly increased until 50% of BFR; after this level the additional increases slowed. It can be concluded that when performing aerobic exercises with BFR, there is no need to use BFR levels above 50% to reach satisfying level of EE with only a moderate level of discomfort to the practitioner. This study was registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (REBEC) under number RBR-3XHSJX.