Muscle Activation With Acute Bouts of Blood Flow Restricted Resistance Exercise

NCT ID: NCT05586451

Last Updated: 2023-09-13

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-07-05
• Study Completion Date: 2023-08-01

Brief Summary

Blood flow restricted (BFR) resistance exercise has been shown to improve skeletal muscle adaptations to low load resistance exercise. One of many adaptations with resistance training is neural adaptations that occur within the first few weeks of resistance training. It has been hypothesized that these neural adaptations are blunted when using blood flow restricted exercise. Therefore, the investigators propose to examine the muscle activation created by resistance exercise with different intensities with blood flow restriction and without blood flow restriction in sedentary compared to resistance-trained individuals. The investigators will recruit and completely study up to 30, previously untrained and resistance-trained, healthy, college-aged (18-40 years) males. Participants will come in the laboratory for 5 total visits. These visits will consist of a screening/familiarization visit, a strength testing visit, and 3 acute exercise visits. The acute exercise visits will consist of 2 blood flow restricted resistance sessions at different intensities and a traditional high load resistance exercise session. The 3 acute exercise visits will be randomized. The investigators will measure muscle mass (appendicular lean mass) using Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry, muscle strength and endurance using isotonic and isokinetic testing, and muscle activation using surface electromyography. The investigators will also use near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure the muscle tissue (oxygen) saturation index (TSI) in the vastus lateralis during exercise. Finally, the investigators will also draw blood before and after each exercise session to measure hormones, metabolites, and markers of inflammation using commercially available assays (e.g., ELISAs).

Conditions

Muscle; Acute Exercise

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Resistance Trained

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.

Group Type: OTHER

Traditional High Load Resistance Exercise (HLRE)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will then perform 75% of tested 1RM for 3 sets of 12 repetitions at a pace of 1 repetition every 2 seconds on the dominant leg with one-minute rest between sets. After completing the HLRE protocol, participants will perform 2 post-exercise maximal voluntary contractions.

Low Load Resistance Exercise with Blood Flow Restriction (LLBFR)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will then perform 25% of tested 1RM for sets of 30, 15, 15, and 15 repetitions on the dominant leg at a pace of 1 repetition every 2 seconds with one-minute rest between sets. Participants will be fitted with an occlusion cuff on the proximal portion of the thigh. The limb occlusion pressure will be set at 60% blood flow occlusion and remain occluded throughout the exercise (Delfi Medical Innovations Personal Tourniquet System).

Moderate Load Resistance Exercise with Blood Flow Restriction (MLBFR)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will then perform 50% of tested 1RM for sets of 15, 8, 7, and 7 repetitions on the dominant leg at a pace of 1 repetition every 2 seconds with one-minute rest between sets. Participants will be fitted with an occlusion cuff on the proximal portion of the thigh. The limb occlusion pressure will be set at 60% blood flow occlusion and remain occluded throughout the exercise (Delfi Medical Innovations Personal Tourniquet System).

Untrained

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.

Group Type: OTHER

Traditional High Load Resistance Exercise (HLRE)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will then perform 75% of tested 1RM for 3 sets of 12 repetitions at a pace of 1 repetition every 2 seconds on the dominant leg with one-minute rest between sets. After completing the HLRE protocol, participants will perform 2 post-exercise maximal voluntary contractions.

Low Load Resistance Exercise with Blood Flow Restriction (LLBFR)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will then perform 25% of tested 1RM for sets of 30, 15, 15, and 15 repetitions on the dominant leg at a pace of 1 repetition every 2 seconds with one-minute rest between sets. Participants will be fitted with an occlusion cuff on the proximal portion of the thigh. The limb occlusion pressure will be set at 60% blood flow occlusion and remain occluded throughout the exercise (Delfi Medical Innovations Personal Tourniquet System).

Moderate Load Resistance Exercise with Blood Flow Restriction (MLBFR)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will then perform 50% of tested 1RM for sets of 15, 8, 7, and 7 repetitions on the dominant leg at a pace of 1 repetition every 2 seconds with one-minute rest between sets. Participants will be fitted with an occlusion cuff on the proximal portion of the thigh. The limb occlusion pressure will be set at 60% blood flow occlusion and remain occluded throughout the exercise (Delfi Medical Innovations Personal Tourniquet System).

Interventions

Traditional High Load Resistance Exercise (HLRE)

Participants will then perform 75% of tested 1RM for 3 sets of 12 repetitions at a pace of 1 repetition every 2 seconds on the dominant leg with one-minute rest between sets. After completing the HLRE protocol, participants will perform 2 post-exercise maximal voluntary contractions.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Low Load Resistance Exercise with Blood Flow Restriction (LLBFR)

Participants will then perform 25% of tested 1RM for sets of 30, 15, 15, and 15 repetitions on the dominant leg at a pace of 1 repetition every 2 seconds with one-minute rest between sets. Participants will be fitted with an occlusion cuff on the proximal portion of the thigh. The limb occlusion pressure will be set at 60% blood flow occlusion and remain occluded throughout the exercise (Delfi Medical Innovations Personal Tourniquet System).

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Moderate Load Resistance Exercise with Blood Flow Restriction (MLBFR)

Participants will then perform 50% of tested 1RM for sets of 15, 8, 7, and 7 repetitions on the dominant leg at a pace of 1 repetition every 2 seconds with one-minute rest between sets. Participants will be fitted with an occlusion cuff on the proximal portion of the thigh. The limb occlusion pressure will be set at 60% blood flow occlusion and remain occluded throughout the exercise (Delfi Medical Innovations Personal Tourniquet System).

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Capable and willing to give written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

3. 18-40 years of age

4. A waist circumference < 40 inches.

5. No medical condition that would limit their participation in supervised exercise sessions based on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PARQ+)

6. No current prescription medications

7. Willing to allow researchers to use data and images (e.g., Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry) for research purposes after study participation is completed

8. 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.

1. Self-report history of diabetes mellitus

2. Self-report history of cardiovascular, peripheral vascular, cerebral vascular, pulmonary, or renal disease

3. Self-report or evidence of uncontrolled hypertension > 150/85 (or measured)

4. Self-report history of blood clotting disorders

5. Self-report history of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism

6. Self-report history of sickle cell trait

7. Self-report history of varicose veins

8. Self-report history of a myopathy leading to muscle loss, weakness, severe cramps or myalgia

9. Self-report history of orthopedic limitations that would preclude them from participation in a dynamic exercise program

10. Self-report history of musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., severe osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, avascular necrosis or osteonecrosis)

11. Self-report history of neurological disorders (e.g., peripheral neuropathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, Parkinson's disease)

12. Weight loss of > 10% in the last 3 months prior to screening

13. Active tobacco use including smoking, vaping, or smokeless tobacco use

14. Current consumption of > 14 alcoholic drinks per week based on self-report

15. 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

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Louisiana State University and A&M College

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Brian Irving

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Brian A Irving

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

School of Kinesiology

Locations

Lousiana State University

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

IRBAM-22-0600

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id