Thermographic assessment of the immediate and short term-effects of blood flow restriction exercise on Achilles tendon skin temperature

Low-load blood flow restriction (LL-BFR) training has gained increasing interest in the scientific community by demonstrating that increases in muscle mass and strength are comparable to conventional high-load (HL) resistance training. Although adaptations on the muscular level are well documented, there is little evidence on how LL-BFR training affects human myotendinous properties. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate morphological and mechanical Achilles tendon adaptations after 14 wk of strength training. Fifty-five male volunteers (27.9 ± 5.1 yr) were randomly allocated into the following three groups: LL-BFR [20–35% of one-repetition maximum (1RM)], HL (70–85% 1RM), or a nonexercising control (CON) group. The LL-BFR and HL groups completed a resistance training program for 14 wk, and tendon morphology, mechanical as well as material properties, and muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and isometric strength were assessed before and after the intervention. Both HL (+40.7%) and LL-BFR (+36.1%) training induced significant increases in tendon stiffness ( P < 0.05) as well as tendon CSA (HL: +4.6%, LL-BFR: +7.8%, P < 0.001). These changes were comparable between groups without significant changes in Young’s modulus. Furthermore, gastrocnemius medialis muscle CSA and plantar flexor strength significantly increased in both training groups ( P < 0.05), whereas the CON group did not show significant changes in any of the evaluated parameters. In conclusion, the adaptive change in Achilles tendon properties following low-load resistance training with partial vascular occlusion appears comparable to that evoked by high-load resistance training. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Low-load blood flow restriction (LL-BFR) training has been shown to induce beneficial adaptations at the muscular level. However, studies examining the effects on human tendon properties are rare. The findings provide first evidence that LL-BFR can increase Achilles tendon mechanical and morphological properties to a similar extent as conventional high-load resistance training. This is of particular importance for individuals who may not tolerate heavy training loads but still aim for improvements in myotendinous function.

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The Effects of a Short-Term Guideline Recommended Hypertrophy Training versus Blood Flow Restriction Training on Pulse Wave Velocity

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ◽

10.1249/01.mss.0000562355.78876.e0 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 51 (Supplement) ◽

pp. 621

Author(s):

Murat Karabulut ◽

Ulku Karabulut ◽

Michael G. Bemben

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Pulse Wave Velocity ◽

Wave Velocity ◽

Pulse Wave ◽

Blood Flow Restriction ◽

Short Term ◽

Flow Restriction

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Short-Term Blood Flow Restriction Training Enhances Hamstrings/Quadriceps Force Ratio in Professional Soccer Players

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ◽

10.1249/01.mss.0000496371.63459.0c ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 46 ◽

pp. 955

Author(s):

Sérgio R. a. Camarda ◽

Felipe B. Dias de Oliveira ◽

Leandro Ribeiro ◽

Camila C. Greco ◽

Benedito S. Denadai

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Blood Flow Restriction ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Short Term ◽

Flow Restriction ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Force Ratio ◽

Quadriceps Force

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5 Effects Of Low-intensity Concentric Combined With Blood Flow Restriction On Achilles Tendon

British Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1136/bjsports-2014-094114.5 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 48 (Suppl 2) ◽

pp. A3.2-A4 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yasser Alakhdar Mohmara ◽

Iván Chulvi-Medrano ◽

Diana Gallego de Marcos ◽

Jose Casaña Granell ◽

Josep Benitez Martinez

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Achilles Tendon ◽

Blood Flow Restriction ◽

Flow Restriction ◽

Low Intensity

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Acute Effects of Resistance Training with Blood Flow Restriction on Achilles Tendon Thickness

Journal of Human Kinetics ◽

10.2478/hukin-2021-0032 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 78 (1) ◽

pp. 101-109

Author(s):

Moisés Picón-Martínez ◽

Iván Chulvi-Medrano ◽

Juan Manuel Cortell-Tormo ◽

Diego A. Alonso-Aubin ◽

Yasser Alakhdar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Resistance Training ◽

Achilles Tendon ◽

Plantar Flexion ◽

Blood Flow Restriction ◽

Acute Effects ◽

Flow Restriction ◽

Pressure Cuff ◽

Tendon Thickness ◽

The Individual

Abstract The Achilles tendon is one of the strongest and thickest tendons of the human body. Several studies have reported an immediate decrease in Achilles tendon thickness after a single bout of resistance training. However, the effects of blood flow restriction training on Achilles tendon thickness have not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of different regimens of resistance training on Achilles tendon thickness. Fiftytwo participants (27.3 ± 7 years; 177.6 ± 11 cm; 72.2 ± 13.7 kg) were randomly allocated into one of the three groups: low-intensity exercise without (LI, n = 13) and with blood flow restriction (LI-BFR, n = 24), and high-intensity exercise (HI, n = 15). Participants from LI and LI-BFR groups performed four sets (1 x 30 + 3 x 15 reps) at 30% 1RM, while the HI group performed four sets (1 x 30 with 30% 1RM + 3 x 10 reps with 75% 1RM). All groups performed a plantar flexion exercise. For the LI-BFR group, a blood pressure cuff was placed on the dominant calf and inflated at 30% of the individual´s occlusion pressure (47.6 ± 19.8 mmHg). Sonographic images of Achilles tendon thickness were taken at pre, immediately after, 60 min and 24 h following acute bouts of exercise. Achilles tendon thickness was significantly reduced immediately after, 60 min and 24 h post-LI-BFR exercise (pre: 4.4 ± 0.4 mm vs. IA: 3.8 ± 0.4 mm vs. 60 min: 3.7 ± 0.3 mm vs. 24 h: 4.1 ± 0.3 mm; p < 0.001), whereas Achilles tendon thickness was unchanged for HI and LI groups (p > 0.05). These results suggest that blood flow restriction training may be an effective strategy to stimulate a positive response in Achilles tendon thickness.

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Different Time Course of Recovery in Achilles Tendon Thickness After Low-Load Resistance Training With and Without Blood Flow Restriction

Journal of Sport Rehabilitation ◽

10.1123/jsr.2019-0403 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Iván Chulvi-Medrano ◽

Moisés Picón-Martínez ◽

Juan Manuel Cortell-Tormo ◽

Juan Tortosa-Martínez ◽

Diego Alexandre Alonso-Aubin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Achilles Tendon ◽

Time Course ◽

Blood Flow Restriction ◽

Medium Effect ◽

Flow Restriction ◽

Low Intensity ◽

Low Load ◽

Tendon Thickness ◽

Post Condition

Context: Blood flow restriction research has focused on muscular strength and hypertrophy. Limited data have been reported about the blood flow restriction effect on the tendon. Objective: To analyze and compare the time course of recovery in Achilles tendon thickness after a single bout of low-intensity resistance training (LI-RT) and low-intensity blood flow restriction training (LI-BFRT). Methods: A total of 56 healthy participants (24.60 [4.0] y; 23.65 [3.4] body mass index) were included. The dominant leg was assigned for LI-BFRT using low load (30% 1-repetition maximum) and 30% of the total occlusion pressure (52.21 [17.89] mm Hg) in plantar-flexion exercise (1 × 30 + 3 × 15 repetitions). The nondominant leg was assumed as a control condition. Main Outcome Measure: Sonography images were taken before the intervention, immediately posttraining, and 24 hours after exercise (post-24) for the Achilles tendon thickness. Results: Changes in Achilles tendon thickness for LI-BFRT group were significant post- (−14.5%; P < .05) and post-24 (−9.2%; P < .05). In contrast, LI-RT group showed a transient decrease after exercise (−9.67%; P < .05) followed by a recovery of thickness post-24 (−1.06%; P < .05). Thickness post-24 was different between LI-BFRT versus LI-RT (P < .01). Hedge effect size analysis showed a large effect (g = 0.90) in LI-BFRT pre–post condition and a medium effect (g = 0.57) in post- to post-24. The LI-RT obtained a medium effect (g = 0.53) in pre–post condition and a small effect (g = 0.49) in post- to post-24. Conclusions: This study showed a different time course of the acute response in Achilles tendon thickness between LI-BFRT and LI-RT. This may be associated with intratendinous fluid movement in response to LI-BFRT.

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