TY  - JOUR
A1  - Gavanda, Simon
A1  - Isenmann, Eduard
A1  - Schlöder, Yvonne
A1  - Roth, Roland
A1  - Freiwald, Jürgen
A1  - Schiffer, Thorsten
A1  - Geisler, Stephan
A1  - Behringer, Michael
T1  - Low-intensity blood flow restriction calf muscle training leads to similar functional and structural adaptations than conventional low-load strength training: A randomized controlled trial
T2  - PLoS one
N2  - The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a six-week, twice weekly resistance training (4 sets at 30% 1-RM until failure) with practical blood flow restriction (BFR) using 7cm wide cuffs with a twist lock placed below the patella is superior to training without BFR (NoBFR) concerning muscle mass and strength gains in calf muscles.
A two-group (BFR n = 12, mean age 27.33 (7.0) years, training experience 7.3 (7.0) years; NoBFR n = 9, mean age 28.9 (7.4) years, training experience 7.1 (6.6) years) randomized matched pair design based on initial 1-RM was used to assess the effects on structural and functional adaptations in healthy males (Perometer calf volume [CV], gastrocnemius muscle thickness using ultrasound [MT], 7-maximal hopping test for leg stiffness [LS], 1-RM smith machine calf raise [1-RM], and visual analogue scale as a measure of pain intensity [VAS]).
The mean number of repetitions completed per training session across the intervention period was higher in the NoBFR group compared to the BFR group (70 (16) vs. 52 (9), p = 0.002). VAS measured during the first session increased similarly in both groups from first to fourth set (p<0.001). No group effects or time×group interactions were found for CV, MT, LS, and 1-RM. However, there were significant time effects for MT (BFR +0.07 cm; NoBFR +0.04; p = 0.008), and 1-RM (BFR +40 kg; NoBFR +34 kg; p<0.001).
LS and CV remained unchanged through training. VAS in both groups were similar, and BFR and NoBFR were equally effective for increasing 1-RM and MT in trained males. However, BFR was more time efficient, due to lesser repetition per training session.
KW  - Strength training
KW  - Blood flow
KW  - Tendons
KW  - Legs
KW  - Stiffness
KW  - Running
KW  - Gastrocnemius muscles
KW  - Muscle functions
Y1  - 2020
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/54728
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-547281
SN  - 1932-6203
N1  - Copyright: © 2020 Gavanda et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
VL  - 15
IS  - (6): e0235377
SP  - 1
EP  - 13
PB  - PLoS
CY  - Lawrence, Kan.
ER  -