The Influences of Blood Flow Restriction on Leg Press

This study aims to investigate the use of Delfi vs. Fitcuffs blood flow restriction (BFR) cuff exercise on indices of arterial stiffness, muscle morphology, performance, and participant perception. Thirty adults aged 18-40 years old will undergo three treatment sessions (control (no BFR), Delfi BFR, and Fitcuffs BFR) in a randomized order separated by one week. A familiarization session will also occur one week before starting the treatment period. Each subject will undergo a series of tests including anthropometry, applanation tonometry, ultrasonography of the vastus lateralis, blood pressure acquisition, body composition, and maximal strength assessments (1RM). The exercise trial will consist of sets of leg press exercises performed to failure with a 2-second concentric and 2-second eccentric cadence at 20% of their 1RM using 60% of the supine limb occlusion pressure (LOP) with 1-minute rest intervals. Assessments will be performed immediately before and after the exercise bout during each treatment session. Two-way ANOVAs will be used to examine the main effects of treatment and treatment-order interaction on pulse wave velocity, muscle cross-sectional area, and perceptual response.

Inclusion criteria

• Physically active (> 1,000 MET/min/wk) for at least six months.
• Weight stable for previous 6 months (+/-2.5 kg)

Exclusion criteria

• Stage 2 hypertension (SBP >/= 140 and/or DBP >/= 90 mmHg)
• BMI>40 kg/m2
• Diabetes
• Familial hypercholesterolemia
• Past or current history of CHD, stroke or major CVD events. Respiratory diseases (not including asthma), endocrine or metabolic, neurological, or hematological disorders that would compromise the study or the health of the subject.
• Participants must not be pregnant, plan to become pregnant during the study, or be nursing
• Active renal or liver disease
• All medications and supplements that influence dependent variables*
• Recent surgery < 2 months
• Alcohol abuse
• Sleep apnea