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Are there differences in auscultatory pulse in total blood flow restriction between positions, limbs and body segments?

Existem diferenças no pulso auscultatório da restrição total de fluxo sanguíneo entre as posições, membros e segmentos corporais?

Abstract

Verification of the auscultatory pulse in total blood flow restriction (BFR) has been a limiting factor in studies due to the way in which it is evaluated and prescribed, as hemodynamic measurements can be directly affected by gravity. The aim of the present study was to compare the auscultatory pulse in BFR between positions, genders, limbs and body segments in healthy young individuals. A total of 156 subjects participated in the study, 76 of whom were male and 80 of whom were female (23.9±3.7 years, 66.5±11.5 kg, 1.67±0.07 m). After filling in registration data, anthropometry was evaluated, and BFR pressure was determined. BFR was evaluated in a randomized manner in both limbs (upper and lower) and in both segments (right and left) in the following positions: a) lying in the supine position; B) sitting with knees and trunk at 90°; and c) standing in the anatomical position. Significant differences were observed between the lying, sitting and standing positions (p<0.05), between genders (p<0.05), between limbs (p<0.05) and between the right and left segments in the lower limb in both genders [males (p=0.014) and females (p=0.009)] in the lying position. However, no significant differences were observed between the right and left segments in the upper limbs (p>0.05). The BFR point appears to differ between positions, genders, lower limbs and segments. Therefore, it is recommended that health professionals should check the BFR point in the position relating to the exercise that will be performed, taking into account gender, lower limbs and body segments.

Key words
Arterial pressure; Hemodynamics; Ischemia; Therapeutic occlusion

Resumo

A verificação do pulso auscultatório da restrição de fluxo sanguíneo (RFS) total tem sido fator limitante dos estudos devido à forma de avaliação e prescrição, já que as medidas hemodinâmicas podem sofrer influência direta da gravidade. O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar o pulso auscultatório da RFS entre as posições, sexo, membros e segmentos corporais em jovens saudáveis. Participaram do estudo 156 sujeitos, sendo 76 homens e 80 mulheres (23,9±3,7 anos, 66,5±11,5 kg, 1,67±0,07 m). Após o preenchimento da ficha cadastral, foram avaliadas a antropometria e em seguida houve a determinação da pressão de RFS. A RFS foi avaliada de forma randomizada em ambos os membros (superiores e inferiores) e ambos os segmentos (direito e esquerdo) nas posições: a) deitada em decúbito dorsal; b) sentada com joelhos e tronco em 90°; e c) em pé na posição anatômica. Observaram-se diferenças significativas entre as posições deitado, sentado e em pé (p<0,05), entre os sexos (p<0,05), entre os membros (p<0,05) e entre os segmentos direito vs. esquerdo no membro inferior em ambos os sexos [homem (p=0,014) e mulher (p=0,009)] na posição deitada. Entretanto, observou-se não existir diferenças significativas entre os segmentos direito vs. esquerdo no membro superior (p>0,05). O ponto da RFS parece diferir entre as posições, sexo, membros inferiores e segmentos. Portanto, recomenda-se que os profissionais da área da saúde devam verificar o ponto da RFS na posição referente ao exercício que será realizado, levando em consideração o sexo, membros inferiores e segmentos corporais.

Palavras-chave
Hemodinâmica; Isquemia; Oclusão terapêutica; Pressão arterial

INTRODUCTION

The practice of physical exercise has increased in recent decades due to its promotion as a way of improving quality of life and health11 American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: guidance for prescribing exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2011;43(7):1334-59.. In this regard, several guidelines have been developed on the premise of perfecting physical exercise prescription11 American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: guidance for prescribing exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2011;43(7):1334-59.,22 American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009;41(3):687-708.. In regard to resistance exercise prescription, muscle strength and hypertrophy have been cited as perfecting in improving quality of life and health11 American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: guidance for prescribing exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2011;43(7):1334-59.. To increase these physical strengths, the American College of Sports Medicine recommends that loads of 65% or greater of one maximum repetition (1RM)22 American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009;41(3):687-708. should be used. However, resistance33 Laurentino GC, Ugrinowitsch C, Roschel H, Aoki MS, Soares AG, M. NJ, et al. Strength training with blood flow restriction diminishes myostatin gene expression. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2012;44(3):406-12. or aerobic44 Abe T, Kearns CF, Sato Y. Muscle size and strength are increased following walk training with restricted venous blood flow from the leg muscle, Kaatsu-walk training. J Appl Physiol 2006;100(5):1460-6. exercise combined with blood flow restriction (BFR) has been used to increase muscle strength and hypertrophy. The main characteristic of this training method is the use of cuffs or elastic bands with a combination of low load percentages (20-30% of 1RM), which allows such increases without promoting high mechanical stress55 Pope ZK, Willardson JM, Schoenfeld BJ. Exercise and blood flow restriction. J Strength Cond Res 2013;27(10):2914–26.. This approach can offer an excellent intervention option for populations that do not tolerate high loads66 Neto GR, Novaes JS, Dias I, Brown A, Vianna J, Cirilo-Sousa MS. Effects of resistance training with blood flow restriction on hemodynamics: a systematic review. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2017;37(6):567-74..

Scientific evidence has shown the importance of low-load training with BFR in increasing muscle strength33 Laurentino GC, Ugrinowitsch C, Roschel H, Aoki MS, Soares AG, M. NJ, et al. Strength training with blood flow restriction diminishes myostatin gene expression. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2012;44(3):406-12.,77 Vechin FC, Libardi CA, Conceição MS, Damas FR, Lixandrão ME, Berton RPB, et al. Comparisons between low-intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction and high-intensity resistance training on quadriceps muscle mass and strength in elderly. J Strength Cond Res 2015;29(4):1071-6., muscle hypertrophy33 Laurentino GC, Ugrinowitsch C, Roschel H, Aoki MS, Soares AG, M. NJ, et al. Strength training with blood flow restriction diminishes myostatin gene expression. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2012;44(3):406-12.,77 Vechin FC, Libardi CA, Conceição MS, Damas FR, Lixandrão ME, Berton RPB, et al. Comparisons between low-intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction and high-intensity resistance training on quadriceps muscle mass and strength in elderly. J Strength Cond Res 2015;29(4):1071-6., localized muscle resistance88 Sousa JBC, Neto GR, Santos HH, Araújo JP, Silva HG, Cirilo-Sousa MS. Effects of strength training with blood flow restriction on torque, muscle activation and local muscular endurance in healthy subjects. Biol Sport 2017;34(1):83-90. and functional capacity99 Araujo JP, Neto GR, Loenneke JP, Bemben MG, Laurentino G, Batista G, et al. The effects of water aerobics in combination with blood flow restriction on strength and functional capacity in post-menopausal women. AGE 2015:10.1007/s11357-015-9851-4.. In addition, it has been demonstrated that this method is safe in relation to hemodynamics1010 Neto GR, Novaes JS, Salerno VP, Gonçalves MM, Piazera BKL, Rodrigues-Rodrigues T, et al. Acute effects of resistance exercise with continuous and intermittent blood flow restriction on hemodynamic measurements and perceived exertion. Percept Mot Skills 2016:0031512516677900.,1111 Neto GR, Sousa MSC, Silva GVC, Gil ALS, Salles BF, Novaes JS. Acute resistance exercise with blood flow restriction effects on heart rate, double product, oxygen saturation and perceived exertion. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2016;36(1):53-9.. However, the use of this technique when using high intensities does not seem to be effective in increasing muscle strength and mass1212 Laurentino G, Ugrinowitsch C, Aihara AY, Fernandes AR, Parcell AC, Ricard M, et al. Effects of strength training and vascular occlusion. Int J Sports Med 2008;29(8):664-7. and in the acute performance of muscle strength immediately after exercise1313 Neto GR, Santos HH, Sousa JBC, Júnior ATA, Araújo JP, Aniceto RR, et al. Effects of high-intensity blood flow restriction exercise on muscle fatigue. J Hum Kinet 2014;41(1):163-72..

In this regard, studies have been developed to improve the application of this training method, analyzing factors such as cuff size1414 Rossow LM, Fahs CA, Loenneke JP, Thiebaud RS, Sherk VD, Abe T, et al. Cardiovascular and perceptual responses to blood?flow?restricted resistance exercise with differing restrictive cuffs. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2012;32(5):331-7., pressure used1515 Sumide T, Sakuraba K, Sawaki K, Ohmura H, Tamura Y. Effect of resistance exercise training combined with relatively low vascular occlusion. J Sci Med Sport 2009;12(1):107-12. and form of BFR application (continuous or intermittent)1010 Neto GR, Novaes JS, Salerno VP, Gonçalves MM, Piazera BKL, Rodrigues-Rodrigues T, et al. Acute effects of resistance exercise with continuous and intermittent blood flow restriction on hemodynamic measurements and perceived exertion. Percept Mot Skills 2016:0031512516677900.,1616 Neto GR, Novaes JS, Salerno VP, Gonçalves MM, Batista GR, Cirilo-Sousa MS. Does a resistance exercise session with continuous or intermittent blood flow restriction promote muscle damage and increase oxidative stress? . J Sports Sci 2018;36(1):104-10.. Additionally, a safe and effective form, considered to be the good alternative for evaluating the BFR point and prescribing the pressure to be used in training, is the technique proposed in Laurentino et al.33 Laurentino GC, Ugrinowitsch C, Roschel H, Aoki MS, Soares AG, M. NJ, et al. Strength training with blood flow restriction diminishes myostatin gene expression. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2012;44(3):406-12.. This procedure consists of BFR verification by means of a vascular Doppler, with the individual lying in the supine position33 Laurentino GC, Ugrinowitsch C, Roschel H, Aoki MS, Soares AG, M. NJ, et al. Strength training with blood flow restriction diminishes myostatin gene expression. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2012;44(3):406-12.,88 Sousa JBC, Neto GR, Santos HH, Araújo JP, Silva HG, Cirilo-Sousa MS. Effects of strength training with blood flow restriction on torque, muscle activation and local muscular endurance in healthy subjects. Biol Sport 2017;34(1):83-90.,1111 Neto GR, Sousa MSC, Silva GVC, Gil ALS, Salles BF, Novaes JS. Acute resistance exercise with blood flow restriction effects on heart rate, double product, oxygen saturation and perceived exertion. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2016;36(1):53-9.. However, the vast majority of exercises are performed in different positions (sitting or standing), and because gravitational force causes direct variations in hemodynamics when the individual changes his position1717 Jones AY, Dean E. Body position change and its effect on hemodynamic and metabolic status. Heart Lung 2004;33(5):281-90., establishing the BFR point in a lying position is a limiting factor when proposing the performance of exercises in other positions. Therefore, this manuscript is of great importance, as it overcomes the limitations mentioned in several studies that verified BFR in the lying position but that used exercises in different positions33 Laurentino GC, Ugrinowitsch C, Roschel H, Aoki MS, Soares AG, M. NJ, et al. Strength training with blood flow restriction diminishes myostatin gene expression. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2012;44(3):406-12.,88 Sousa JBC, Neto GR, Santos HH, Araújo JP, Silva HG, Cirilo-Sousa MS. Effects of strength training with blood flow restriction on torque, muscle activation and local muscular endurance in healthy subjects. Biol Sport 2017;34(1):83-90.,99 Araujo JP, Neto GR, Loenneke JP, Bemben MG, Laurentino G, Batista G, et al. The effects of water aerobics in combination with blood flow restriction on strength and functional capacity in post-menopausal women. AGE 2015:10.1007/s11357-015-9851-4.. These findings demonstrate the importance of establishing the BFR point for the position in which the exercise will be performed. In addition, there is no scientific evidence regarding the difference in BFR point measurement between limbs and body segments.

Knowing whether there are any differences between positions, sexes, limbs and segments will be of fundamental importance for professionals working with this training method, as it will serve as a way to assist in the BFR point prescription safety procedures. Therefore, we hypothesize that there would be significant differences between positions, sexes and limbs but that there would be no significant differences between segments. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the BFR point between positions (lying down, sitting and standing), sexes (male and female), limbs (upper and lower) and segments (right and left) in healthy young people.

METHODOLOGICAL PROCEDURES

Subjects

A total of 156 healthy subjects participated voluntarily in this study: 76 men and 80 women (Table 1). The sample calculation was performed using G*Power 3.1 software1818 Faul F, Erdfelder E, Lang AG, Buchner A. G* Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behav Res Meth 2007;39(2):175-91., based on the procedures suggested by Beck1919 Beck TW. The importance of a priori sample size estimation in strength and conditioning research. J Strength Cond Res 2013;27(8):2323-37.. Based on an a priori analysis, an N of 73 participants was calculated, having adopted a power of 0.80, an α = 0.05, a correlation coefficient of 0.5, a nonsphericity correction of 1 and an effect size of 0.15. It was found that 73 subjects would be sufficient to provide 80.0% of the statistical power. As the study ended with 156 subjects, the post hoc analysis showed that the sample size was sufficient to provide 98.8% statistical power.

Participants who were apparently healthy and between 18 and 35 years of age were included in the study. And people with hypertension or history of cardiovascular disease were excluded. After the risks and benefits of the study were explained, the participants signed terms of free and informed consent, prepared in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The study was approved by the Federal University of Paraíba Research Ethics Committee (protocol number 0476/13).

Table 1
Participant characteristics

Study design

Participants attended the laboratory on only one occasion, in which they signed a registration form. Anthropometry was then evaluated and the BFR point determined. BFR was performed on both limbs (upper and lower) and both segments (right and left) in one of the following positions, randomly selected for each participant (crossover): a) lying in the supine position; b) sitting with knees and trunk at 90°; and c) standing in the anatomical position. At first contact, prior to the laboratory visit, participants were instructed to avoid exercising for 12 hours and to avoid caffeine, chocolate, nutritional supplements and alcohol before the evaluations.

Anthropometric evaluation

An electronic scale (Soehnle® Professional 7755) with 100 g of precision was used to obtain body mass (kg). A portable wooden stadiometer (Cardiomed, WCS-WOOD COMPACT - 2010 Curitiba, PR, Brazil) with an accuracy of 0.05 mm was used for height (m). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated by dividing body mass by the square of the height (kg/m2).

Description of the positions

Lying position: The participant lay in a supine position, with legs and arms extended and supported on the stretcher. He/she then stood erect with his/her face and eyes facing forward, upper limbs extended to the side of the trunk and with palms facing forward, lower limbs parallel, with the toes facing forward.

Sitting position: The participant was seated with the angles of the hips, trunk, knees and ankles kept at 90º, and his/her body weight was transferred to the seat of the chair by means of the ischial tuberosity, with the feet resting on the ground and parallel.

Standing position: The participant stood erect with his/her face and eyes facing forward, upper limbs extended to the side of the trunk and with palms facing forward, lower limbs parallel, with the toes facing forward.

Determination of the BFR point

Total BFR was obtained by vascular Doppler (MedPeg® DV -2001, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil). The probe was positioned over the radial artery to determine the BFR points of both upper limbs and on the dorsalis pedis artery to determine the BFR points of both lower limbs. For the upper limbs, a standard sphygmomanometer (Riester Komprimeter pneumatic tourniquet for hemostasis in extremities) was used for both arms (width 60 mm) and was fixed around the most proximal portion and inflated to the point where the auscultatory pulse of the radial artery was interrupted. For the lower limbs, a standard blood pressure sphygmomanometer (Riester Komprimeter pneumatic tourniquet for hemostasis in extremities) was used for both legs (width 100 mm) and was fixed in the most proximal region and inflated to the point where the auscultatory pulse of the dorsalis pedis artery was interrupted33 Laurentino GC, Ugrinowitsch C, Roschel H, Aoki MS, Soares AG, M. NJ, et al. Strength training with blood flow restriction diminishes myostatin gene expression. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2012;44(3):406-12..

These procedures were performed by only one experienced evaluator, on the same person, under three conditions randomly (crossover): 1) lying supine; 2) sitting with knees and trunk at 90°; and 3) standing in the anatomical position. After anthropometric evaluation, the subjects rested for 10 minutes in the allotted position. The BFR point evaluation procedure then began. The BFR evaluations in the three positions were performed initially for the right and left arms and right and left legs, respectively.

Statistical analysis

The data were analyzed using version 20 of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Initially, an exploratory analysis was performed to verify normality (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test). In all variables the assumption of normality was rejected (p < 0.05), thus, Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA was used to compare the positions. The Mann-Whitney test was then used to find the significant differences between positions, sex and body limbs, and the Wilcoxon test was performed for comparisons of segments (right vs. left). Data are presented as means and standard deviations. The significance level adopted was p < 0.05.

RESULTS

In the comparative analysis of BFR points between upper limb positions, higher values were observed in the sitting position when compared to the lying position only for the right segment in both males (p = 0.008) and females (p = 0.041). There were higher values in the standing position when compared to the lying position in both the right and left segments in females (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). There were also higher values in the standing position when compared to the position lying in the left segment for females (p = 0.040). For the lower limbs, higher values were observed in the sitting position when compared to the lying position in both segments, right and left, in both males (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively) and females (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). It was also observed that regarding the lower limb, there were higher values in the standing position when compared with the lying position in both segments, right and left, in both males (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively) and females (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). It was also observed that there were higher values in the standing position when compared to the sitting position in both segments, right and left, in both males (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively) and females (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively), as shown in Table 2.

Table 2
Mean and standard deviations in the MIQ-C score for each group in each imagery modality.

In the comparative analysis of BFR points between sexes in the lying position, higher values were found in men when compared to women in both segments, right and left, in the upper limbs (p < 0.001; p < 0.001, respectively). It was also observed that between the sexes in the sitting position, there were higher values in men when compared to women in both segments, right and left, in the upper limbs (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively) and in the lower limbs (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). For the standing position, there were higher values in men when compared with women in both segments, right and left (p < 0.001; p < 0.001, respectively), as shown in Table 2.

In the comparative analysis of BFR points between the limbs in the lying position, the lower limbs showed higher values when compared with the upper limbs in both segments, right and left, in males (p = 0.019, p < 0.001, respectively) and in females (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). It was also observed that between the limbs in the sitting position, there were higher values for the lower limbs when compared with the upper limbs in both segments, right and left, in males (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively) and in females (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). It was also observed that among the limbs in the standing position, there were higher values in the lower limbs when compared with the limbs in both segments, right and left, in males (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively) and in females (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively), as shown in Table 2.

In the comparative analysis of BFR points between segments, higher values were observed in the left segment when compared to the right in both sexes [male (p = 0.014) and female (p = 0.009)], but only in the lying position (Table 2).

DISCUSSION

The present study compared the BFR points between positions (lying down, sitting and standing), sex (male and female), limbs (upper and lower) and segments (right and left) in healthy young people. To our knowledge, this study was the first to verify the BFR points in different positions considering sex, limbs and body segments in an attempt to improve BFR prescription quality for strength and aerobic training. Furthermore, the results of this manuscript will overcome the limitations already mentioned in several studies, that is, BFR being verified only in the lying position, thereby allowing prescriptions for exercises in different positions33 Laurentino GC, Ugrinowitsch C, Roschel H, Aoki MS, Soares AG, M. NJ, et al. Strength training with blood flow restriction diminishes myostatin gene expression. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2012;44(3):406-12.,77 Vechin FC, Libardi CA, Conceição MS, Damas FR, Lixandrão ME, Berton RPB, et al. Comparisons between low-intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction and high-intensity resistance training on quadriceps muscle mass and strength in elderly. J Strength Cond Res 2015;29(4):1071-6.

8 Sousa JBC, Neto GR, Santos HH, Araújo JP, Silva HG, Cirilo-Sousa MS. Effects of strength training with blood flow restriction on torque, muscle activation and local muscular endurance in healthy subjects. Biol Sport 2017;34(1):83-90.
-99 Araujo JP, Neto GR, Loenneke JP, Bemben MG, Laurentino G, Batista G, et al. The effects of water aerobics in combination with blood flow restriction on strength and functional capacity in post-menopausal women. AGE 2015:10.1007/s11357-015-9851-4.,1111 Neto GR, Sousa MSC, Silva GVC, Gil ALS, Salles BF, Novaes JS. Acute resistance exercise with blood flow restriction effects on heart rate, double product, oxygen saturation and perceived exertion. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2016;36(1):53-9.. The main findings of the present study were I) there were differences in the BFR points between positions, sexes and limbs (upper and lower); and II) there were no differences in the evaluation of BFR points in the upper limbs (right and left), but there were in the lower limbs.

Although no study has compared the differences in BFR points between positions, sex, limbs and segments, Nakajima et al. study2020 Nakajima T, Iida H, Kurano M, Takano H, Morita T, Meguro K, et al. Hemodynamic responses to simulated weightlessness of 24-h head-down bed rest and KAATSU blood flow restriction. Eur J Appl Physiol 2008;104(4):727. compared hemodynamic responses between the head-down tilt (real simulation for astronauts) and the sitting position, with application of the BFR in the lower segment. These authors concluded that the effects of permanence in hemodynamic measures after the use of BFR appear to promote a similar stress only in the upside-down position and may be useful for astronaut training. Lida et al.2121 Iida H, Kurano M, Takano H, Kubota N, Morita T, Meguro K, et al. Hemodynamic and neurohumoral responses to the restriction of femoral blood flow by KAATSU in healthy subjects. Eur J Appl Physiol 2007;100(3):275-85. also corroborated the information that BFR may act as a potential strategy in promoting hemodynamic changes in a similar way in the lying position with the application of BFR and in the standing position. These two studies are not directly related to the objective of the present study; however, they do show the importance of evaluating BFR in different positions.

In this regard, when reviewing the literature, it is apparent that several studies to date have evaluated BFR points in the supine position on the upper limbs1111 Neto GR, Sousa MSC, Silva GVC, Gil ALS, Salles BF, Novaes JS. Acute resistance exercise with blood flow restriction effects on heart rate, double product, oxygen saturation and perceived exertion. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2016;36(1):53-9.,2222 Neto GR, Sousa MSC, Costa PB, Salles BF, Novaes GS, Novaes JS. Hypotensive effects of resistance exercises with blood flow restriction. J Strength Cond Res 2015;29(4):1064-70. and the lower limbs33 Laurentino GC, Ugrinowitsch C, Roschel H, Aoki MS, Soares AG, M. NJ, et al. Strength training with blood flow restriction diminishes myostatin gene expression. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2012;44(3):406-12.,77 Vechin FC, Libardi CA, Conceição MS, Damas FR, Lixandrão ME, Berton RPB, et al. Comparisons between low-intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction and high-intensity resistance training on quadriceps muscle mass and strength in elderly. J Strength Cond Res 2015;29(4):1071-6.

8 Sousa JBC, Neto GR, Santos HH, Araújo JP, Silva HG, Cirilo-Sousa MS. Effects of strength training with blood flow restriction on torque, muscle activation and local muscular endurance in healthy subjects. Biol Sport 2017;34(1):83-90.
-99 Araujo JP, Neto GR, Loenneke JP, Bemben MG, Laurentino G, Batista G, et al. The effects of water aerobics in combination with blood flow restriction on strength and functional capacity in post-menopausal women. AGE 2015:10.1007/s11357-015-9851-4.,1111 Neto GR, Sousa MSC, Silva GVC, Gil ALS, Salles BF, Novaes JS. Acute resistance exercise with blood flow restriction effects on heart rate, double product, oxygen saturation and perceived exertion. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2016;36(1):53-9.,2222 Neto GR, Sousa MSC, Costa PB, Salles BF, Novaes GS, Novaes JS. Hypotensive effects of resistance exercises with blood flow restriction. J Strength Cond Res 2015;29(4):1064-70., even though they used exercises that were applied in different positions. In this regard, when analyzing those studies’ methodologies, it can be seen that the BFR prescription is a limiting factor, as there were differences in the present study’s results between positions, limbs and segments. These variations in BFR point values may be related to gravitational force, which causes variations when the individual changes his position1717 Jones AY, Dean E. Body position change and its effect on hemodynamic and metabolic status. Heart Lung 2004;33(5):281-90.. Therefore, exercise position should be considered as an individual factor for BFR verification. Additionally, it should be noted that this difference in BFR pressure level, determined for each type of exercise, can directly affect gains in a particular ability being trained. This effect may be due to increased discomfort and subjective perception of exertion, which leads to a reduction in training volume, as greater pressure causes more discomfort2323 Loenneke JP, Kim D, Fahs CA, Thiebaud RS, Abe T, Larson RD, et al. The effects of resistance exercise with and without different degrees of blood-flow restriction on perceptual responses. J Sports Sci 2015;33(14):1472-9.,2424 Mattocks KT, Jessee MB, Counts BR, Buckner SL, Mouser JG, Dankel SJ, et al. The effects of upper body exercise across different levels of blood flow restriction on arterial occlusion pressure and perceptual responses. Physiol Behav 2017;171:181-6.; therefore, the total training workload may be directly affected2424 Mattocks KT, Jessee MB, Counts BR, Buckner SL, Mouser JG, Dankel SJ, et al. The effects of upper body exercise across different levels of blood flow restriction on arterial occlusion pressure and perceptual responses. Physiol Behav 2017;171:181-6..

In this context, in the lower limbs, the BFR point was higher in the standing position than in the lying position, with differences of 48.9 mmHg in men and 32.8 mmHg in women in the right segment. These differences also occurred in the left segment. This pressure variation may be a determining factor in training volume, which may generate consequences for physical strength capacities, hypertrophy and muscular resistance. These data partially corroborate the findings of a study by Miranda et al.2525 Miranda H, Simão R, Lemos A, Dantas BHA, Baptista LA, Novaes JS. Analysis on the cardiac rate, blood pressure and doubled-product in different body positions in resisted exercises. Rev Bras Med Esporte 2005;11(5):295-98., who observed that there were no significant differences in hemodynamic measurements after performing a supine exercise in the lying and sitting positions, but the mean values were lower for the lying position. As a recommendation, Miranda et al.2525 Miranda H, Simão R, Lemos A, Dantas BHA, Baptista LA, Novaes JS. Analysis on the cardiac rate, blood pressure and doubled-product in different body positions in resisted exercises. Rev Bras Med Esporte 2005;11(5):295-98. suggested that studies should aim to analyze different body positions to guide procedures for the prescription of exercises. Upon analyzing this recommendation, it is observed that this guidance is for traditional strength training, where there is already a vast field of knowledge, yet little is known about the variation in BFR points between positions, sexes, limbs and body segment, further highlighting the need for the present study. The quality and safety of BFR application is of fundamental importance in increasing muscle strength and hypertrophy of the practitioners of this intervention modality, either without exercise or in combination with strength or aerobic training.

When analyzing the differences between sexes, it was found that males’ mean BFR point values were higher than those of females, which was true regardless of position, limb and segment. Thus, the fact that there are such differences in BFR points between sexes, positions, limbs and segments demonstrates that several previously conducted studies2626 Takarada Y, Takazawa H, Ishii N. Applications of vascular occlusions diminish disuse atrophy of knee extensor muscles. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000;32(12):2035-9.,2727 Weatherholt A, Beekley M, Greer S, Urtel M, Mikesky A. Modified Kaatsu training: adaptations and subject perceptions. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2013;45(5):952-61. that used both sexes with pre-established pressures may have been directly affected, as neither the principle of biological individuality nor any of the parameters analyzed in the present study were taken into consideration. In addition, this information is corroborated by Wernbom et al. findings2828 Wernbom M, Paulsen G, Nilsen TS, Hisdal J, Raastad T. Contractile function and sarcolemmal permeability after acute low-load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction. Eur J Appl Physiol 2012;112(6):2051-63., who mention that males require higher pressures than females to be able to achieve total BFR. This information underlines the difference between sexes in the physiological control of blood pressure, which can also be directly affected by age2929 Joyner MJ, Wallin BG, Charkoudian N. Sex differences and blood pressure regulation in humans. Exp Physiol 2016;101(3):349-55..

Another point worth mentioning is that BFR prescription in the upper limbs can be performed by measuring only one segment, with the same value being used for prescription of the opposite segment, as there was no difference in BFR point evaluations between the upper limbs. However, this principle should not be followed for the lower limbs, as there were significant differences. This concern regarding appropriate prescription among limbs and segments is of paramount importance, as it is observed that the lower limbs promote higher concentrations of growth hormone (GH) than the upper limbs, which can have direct fundamental consequences on muscle hypertrophy3030 Madarame H, Sasaki K, Ishii N. Endocrine responses to upper-and lower-limb resistance exercises with blood flow restriction. Acta Physiol Hung 2010;97(2):192-200..

Finally, the present study has some limitations. First, these results can be applied only to people with the study group’s characteristics and may suffer variations in cases of athletic people, those with special needs and older people. Second, it was not performed a randomization of the limbs and body segments. Third, the BFR point was established with a 6-cm cuff for the upper limb and a 10-cm cuff for the lower limb, but it is believed that these variations may continue to occur because the main influencer in these hemodynamic changes is gravity1717 Jones AY, Dean E. Body position change and its effect on hemodynamic and metabolic status. Heart Lung 2004;33(5):281-90.. However, as cuff size can directly affect hemodynamic measurements1414 Rossow LM, Fahs CA, Loenneke JP, Thiebaud RS, Sherk VD, Abe T, et al. Cardiovascular and perceptual responses to blood?flow?restricted resistance exercise with differing restrictive cuffs. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2012;32(5):331-7., it is suggested that studies be conducted using different cuff sizes and with people at different training levels, those with special needs and those of different age groups.

CONCLUSION

Blood flow restriction points appear to differ between positions, sexes, lower limbs and segments. Therefore, it is recommended that health professionals should check the BFR point in each position for the exercises that will be performed, for example, lying down (bench press), sitting (front pull ups) and standing (squats), taking sex, lower limbs and body segment into consideration.

Acknowledgments

Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES).

Funding

  • This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. This study was funded by the authors.

Ethical approval

  • Ethical approval was obtained from the local Human Research Ethics Committee - Federal University of Paraíba, and the protocol was written in accordance with the standards set by the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Sep-Oct 2018

History

  • Received
    26 Oct 2017
  • Accepted
    10 May 2018
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