Muscle Activation With Acute Bouts of Blood Flow Restricted Resistance Exercise

Inclusion criteria

• Capable and willing to give written informed consent
• Capable of understanding inclusion and exclusion criteria
• 18-40 years of age
• A waist circumference < 40 inches.
• No medical condition that would limit their participation in supervised exercise sessions based on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PARQ+)
• No current prescription medications
• Willing to allow researchers to use data and images (e.g., Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry) for research purposes after study participation is completed
• Either untrained or resistance-trained by the following definitions: Untrained individuals are considered those that report less than two days per week of structured (> 30 minutes) moderate to vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise and less than two days per week of structured resistance training for the 3 months prior to study start. Resistance-trained individuals are considered those who report performing structured moderate to intense resistance exercise for at least three days per week for at least 2 years prior to study start.

Exclusion criteria

• Self-report history of diabetes mellitus
• Self-report history of cardiovascular, peripheral vascular, cerebral vascular, pulmonary, or renal disease
• Self-report or evidence of uncontrolled hypertension > 150/85 (or measured)
• Self-report history of blood clotting disorders
• Self-report history of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism
• Self-report history of sickle cell trait
• Self-report history of varicose veins
• Self-report history of a myopathy leading to muscle loss, weakness, severe cramps or myalgia
• Self-report history of orthopedic limitations that would preclude them from participation in a dynamic exercise program
• Self-report history of musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., severe osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, avascular necrosis or osteonecrosis)
• Self-report history of neurological disorders (e.g., peripheral neuropathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, Parkinson's disease)
• Weight loss of > 10% in the last 3 months prior to screening
• Active tobacco use including smoking, vaping, or smokeless tobacco use
• Current consumption of > 14 alcoholic drinks per week based on self-report
• Any other condition that, in the judgement of the Principal Investigator and/or the Medical Director of this protocol, may interfere with study participation and adherence to the protocol