Acute Responses in Blood Flow Restriction Low-intensity Aerobic
                    Training: A Meta-analysis

Victor Sabino de Queiros; Nicholas Rolnick; Angelo Sabag; Ingrid Martins de França; Phelipe Wilde; João Guilherme Vieira; Victor Machado Reis; Magno F. Formiga; Breno Guilherme de Araújo Tinôco Cabral; Paulo Moreira Silva Dantas

doi:10.1055/a-2038-3635

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2023; 44(08): 545-557
DOI: 10.1055/a-2038-3635

Review

Acute Responses in Blood Flow Restriction Low-intensity Aerobic Training: A Meta-analysis

Victor Sabino de Queiros

¹Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN, Brazil

,

Nicholas Rolnick

²The Human Performance Mechanic, CUNY Lehman College, New York, USA

,

Angelo Sabag

³NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, Australia

,

Ingrid Martins de França

⁴Graduate Program in Physiotherapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Rio Grande Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN, Brazil

,

Phelipe Wilde

¹Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN, Brazil

,

João Guilherme Vieira

⁵Graduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora-MG, Brazil

,

Victor Machado Reis

⁶Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

,

Magno F. Formiga

⁷Graduate Program in Physiotherapy and Functionality, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza - CE, Brazil

,

Breno Guilherme de Araújo Tinôco Cabral

¹Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN, Brazil

⁸Graduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN, Brazil

,

Paulo Moreira Silva Dantas

¹Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN, Brazil

⁸Graduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN, Brazil

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

The purpose was to determine the effect low-intensity training with blood flow restriction (LI-BFR) versus high-intensity aerobic training (HIT) on acute physiological and perceptual responses. The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, National Library of Medicine, Scopus, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science databases and the reference list of eligible studies were consulted to identify randomized experimental studies, published until July 4, 2022, that analyzed physiological or perceptual responses between LI-BFR versus HIT in healthy young individuals. Mean difference (MD) and standardized mean difference (SMD) were used as effect estimates and random effects models were applied in all analyses. Twelve studies were included in this review. During exercise sessions, HIT promoted higher values of heart rate (MD=28.9 bpm; p<0.00001; I ²=79%), oxygen consumption (SMD=4.01; p<0.00001; I ²=83%), ventilation (MD=48.03 l/min; p=0.0001; I ²=97%), effort (SMD=1.54; p=0.003; I ²=90%) and blood lactate (MD=3.85 mmol/L; p=0.002; I ²=97%). Perception of pain/discomfort was lower in HIT (SMD=−1.71; p=0.04; I ²=77.5%). In conclusion, LI-BFR promotes less pronounced physiological responses than HIT but with greater perception of pain.

Key words

vascular occlusion - endurance training - high-intensity interval training - rating of perceived exertion - lactates

Full Text

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material