Effects of low-intensity concentric and eccentric exercise combined with blood flow restriction on indices of exercise-induced muscle damage

Abstract

Low-intensity blood-flow restriction (BFR) resistance training significantly increases strength and muscle size, but some studies report it produces exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) in the lower body after exercise to failure.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of a pre-set number of repetitions of upper body concentric and eccentric exercise when combined with BFR on changes in EIMD.

Methods: Ten young men had arms randomly assigned to either concentric BFR (CON-BFR) or eccentric BFR (ECC-BFR) dumbbell curl exercise (30% one-repetition maximum (1-RM), 1 set of 30 repetitions followed by 3 sets of 15 repetitions). Maximal isometric voluntary contraction force (MVC), muscle thickness (MTH), circumference, range of motion (ROM), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and muscle soreness were measured before, immediately after, and daily for 4 days post-exercise.

Results: MVC decreased by 36% for CON-BFR and 12% for ECC-BFR immediately after exercise but was not changed 1-4 days post-exercise (p > 0.05). Only CON-BFR had significant changes in MTH and circumference immediately after exercise (p < 0.05). Muscle soreness was observed in the ECC-BFR arm at 1 and 2 days after exercise.

Conclusions: Low-intensity ECC-BFR produces significant muscle soreness at 24 h but neither ECC-BFR nor CON-BFR exercise produces significant changes in multiple indices of EIMD.

Keywords: blood flow restriction; delayed onset muscle soreness; lengthening contractions; muscle damage; ultrasound.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.

Muscle soreness changes. Change in muscle soreness before and 1–4 days after low-intensity eccentric (ECC) and concentric (CON) exercise combined with blood flow restriction. Error bars represent standard deviation. *Significant difference from pre-exercise, p < 0.05. †Significant difference between groups, p < 0.05

Fig. 2.

Maximal voluntary isometric contraction torque (MVC) percent changes. Percent change in MVC after low-intensity eccentric (ECC) and concentric (CON) exercise combined with blood flow restriction. Error bars represent standard deviation. *Significant difference from pre-exercise, p< 0.05. †Significant difference between groups, p < 0.05