Table 1.
Review of the studies assessing cardiovascular responses to blood flow-restricted resistance exercise
| N, Sex | Exercise Protocol | BFR Protocol | CV Outcome (Method) | Main Results | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy young subjects | |||||
| Poton and Polito (127) | 12 men | Unilateral knee extension; HI, 3 × 8 reps (80% 1RM) LI, 3 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) LI-BFRC, 3 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) |
OP: 100% AOP Cuff width: 18 cm |
SBP, DBP, CO, SV, HR, TPR (finger photoplethysmography) |
SBP: HI > LI-BFRC > LI DBP: HI > (LI-BFRC = LI) CO: HI > LI; HI = LI-BFRC; LI = LI-BFRC HR: HI > LI-BFRC> LI SV: HI = LI-BFRC = LI TPR: HI > LI; HI = LI-BFRC; LI = LI-BFRC |
| May et al. (88) | 14 men | 45° leg press; HI, 4 × 8 reps (80% 1RM) LI, 1 × 30+3 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) LI-BFRC, 1 × 30+3 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) |
OP: 80% AOP Cuff width: 10.5 cm |
SBP and DBP (oscillometric) CO (gas rebreathing technique) HR (HR monitor) SV (CO/HR) |
SBP: HI = LI-BFRC; LI = LI-BFR; HI > LI DBP: LI-BFRC > (HI = LI) CO: HI > (LI-BFRC = LI) HR: HI > LI-BFRC > LI SV: HI < LI; HI = LI-BFRC; LI = LI-BFR |
| Poton and Polito (128) | 17; 11 men 6 women |
45° leg press; HI, 3 × 8 reps (80% 1RM) LI, 3 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) LI-BFRC, 3 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) |
OP: 100% AOP Cuff width: 18 cm |
SBP, DBP, CO, SV, HR, TPR (finger photoplethysmography) |
During sets: SBP: HI > LI-BFRC > LI DBP: HI > LI-BFRC > LI CO: HI > (LI-BFRC = LI) HR: (HI = LI-BFRC) > LI SV: (HI = LI) > LI-BFRC TPR: HI > LI-BFRC > LI Interval between sets: SBP: LI-BFRC = LI = HI DBP: LI-BFRC = LI = HI CO: LI-BFRC = LI = HI SV: LI-BFRC = LI = HI HR: LI-BFRC = LI = HI TPR: LI-BFRC = LI = HI |
| Libardi et al. (76) | 12 men | 45° leg press; HI, 4 × max reps (80% 1RM) LI, 4 × max reps (30% 1RM) LI-BFRC, 4 × 15 reps (30% 1RM) |
OP: 50% AOP Cuff width: 17.5 cm |
SBP, DBP, CO, SV, TPR (finger photoplethysmography) HR (ECG) |
SBP: HI > LI > LI-BFRC DBP: HI > LI > LI-BFRC CO: LI > (HI = LI-BFRC) HR: LI > HI > LI-BFR SV: LI > (HI = LI-BFRC) TPR: LI > LI-BFR; LI = HI; HI = LI-BFRC |
| Brandner et al. (16) | 12 men | Unilateral elbow flexion; HI 4 × 6–8 reps (80% 1RM) LI 1 × 30+3 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) LI-BFRC 1 × 30+3 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) LI-BFRI 1 × 30+3 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) |
OP: LI-BFRC = 80% AOP OP: LI-BFRI = 130% AOP Cuff width: 10.5 cm |
SBP, DBP (auscultatory) CO (gas-rebreathing technique) HR (heart rate monitor) SV (CO/SV) TPR (MAP/CO) |
SBP: (HI = LI-BFRI) > LI-BFRC > LI DBP: (HI = LI-BFRI) > LI; LI-BFRC = all CO: HI > (LI-BFRI = LI-BFRC = LI) HR: (HI = LI-BFRI) > (LI-BFRC = LI) SV: HI = LI-BFRI = LI-BFRC = LITPR: LI-BFRI > (LI-BFRC = LI) > HI |
| Kilgas et al. (71) | 10 men | Rhythmic handgrip; LI, 1 × 30 reps (30% MVC) LI-BFRC, 1 × 30 reps (30% MVC) |
OP: 60, 80, 100, and 120% AOP Cuff width: 10 cm |
MAP, CO (finger photoplethysmography) HR (ECG) |
MAP: LI = LI-BFRC CO: LI = LI-BFRC HR: LI = LI-BFRC |
| Bazgir et al. (14) | 16 men | Unilateral eccentric leg extension; LI, 4 × 15 reps (30% MVC) LI-BFRC, 4 × 15 reps (30% MVC) |
OP: 90–100 mmHg Cuff width: 13 cm |
SBP, DBP (auscultatory) HR (heart rate monitor) |
SBP: LI-BFRC > LI DBP: LI-BFRC > LI HR: LI-BFRC = LI |
| Downs et al. (29) | 13; 5 men 8 women |
Leg press and heel raise; HI, 3 × max (80% 1RM) LI, 3 × max (20% 1RM) LI-BFRC1, 3 × max (20% 1RM) LI-BFRC2, 3 × max (20% 1RM) |
OP: C1 = 1.3 × resting DBP C2 = 1.3 × resting SBP Cuff width: 6 cm |
SBP, DBP (finger photoplethysmography) SV (echocardiography) HR (ECG) CO (HR × SV) |
SBP: LI-BFRC2 > (LI-BFRC1 = HI) > LI DBP: LI-BFRC2 > LI-BFRC1 > (HI = LI) CO: (HI = LI) > LI-BFRC1 > LI-BFRC2 HR: (HI = LI) > (LI-BFRC1 = LI-BFRC2) SV: (HI = LI = LI-BFRC1) > LI-BFRC2 |
| Ozaki et al. (114) | 14 men (7 per group) | Bench press; HI, 3 × 10 reps (75% 1RM) LI-BFRC, 3 × 15 reps (30% 1RM) |
OP: 160 mmHg Cuff width: 3 cm |
SBP, HR (oscillometric) | SBP: HI > LI-BFRC HR: HI > LI-BFRC |
| Takano et al. (159) | 11 men | Leg extension; LI 1 × 30+3 × max (20% 1RM) LI-BFRC 1 × 30+3 × max (20% 1RM) |
OP: 1.3 times resting SBP Cuff width: 3.3 cm |
SBP, DBP (finger photoplethysmography) SV (impedance cardiography) HR (ECG) CO = SV x HR TPR = MAP/CO |
SBP: LI-BFRC > LI DBP: LI-BFRC > LI CO: LI-BFRC = LI HR: LI-BFRC > LI SV: LI-BFRC < LI TPR: LI-BFRC = LI |
| Vieira et al. (167) | 15 men | Unilateral biceps curl; LI, 1 × 3 min (30% 1RM) LI-BFRC, 1 × 3 min (30% 1RM) |
OP: 120 mmHg Cuff width: NR |
SBP, DBP (oscillometric) HR (heart rate monitor) CBF, CVR (venous occlusion plethysmography) |
SBP: LI-BFRC > LI DBP: LI-BFRC > LI HR: LI-BFRC > LI CBF: LI-BFRC < LI CVR: LI-BFRC > LI |
| Figueroa and Vicil (36) | 23; 11 men 12 women |
Bilateral leg extension and flexion; LI, 3 × max (40% 1RM) LI-BFRI, 3 × max (40% 1RM) |
OP: 100 mmHg Cuff width: NR |
SBP, DBP (oscillometric) HR (pulse interval from a tonometer) |
SBP: LI-BFR = LI DBP: LI-BFR = LI HR: LI-BFR = LI |
| Staunton et al. (155) | 11 men | 45° leg press; LI, 1 × 30+3 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) LI-BFRC, 1 × 30+3 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) |
OP: 60% AOP Cuff width: 10.5 cm |
SBP, DBP (auscultatory) CO (gas rebreathing technique) HR (heart rate monitor) SV = CO/HR TPR = MAP/CO |
SBP: LI-BFRC > LI DBP: LI-BFRC > LI CO: LI-BFRC = LI HR: LI-BFRC > LI SV: LI-BFRC = LI TPR: LI-BFRC = LI |
| Kacin and Strazar (61) | 10 men | Unilateral knee extension LI, 1 × max (15% 1RM) LI-BFRTC, 1 × max (15% 1RM) |
OP: 230 mmHg Cuff width: 13 cm |
HR (ECG) SBP, DBP (finger photoplethysmography) |
SBP: LI-BFRC = LI DBP: LI-BFRC = LI HR: LI-BFRC = LI |
| Middle-aged/elderly subjects | |||||
| Sardeli et al. (142) | 21 NR | 45° Leg press; HI, 4 × max (80% 1RM) LI, 4 × max (30% 1RM) LI-BFRC, 1 × 30+3 × 15 reps (30% 1RM) |
OP: 50% AOP Cuff width: 17.5 cm |
SBP, DBP, HR (finger photoplethysmography) |
SBP: LI-BFRC > HI; LI-BFRC = LI; LI = HI DBP: LI-BFRC > HI; LI-BFRC = LI; LI = HI HR: LI-BFRC = LI = HI |
| Scott et al. (146) | 15 women | Leg press and leg extension; HI, 3 × 10 reps (70% 1RM) LI, 1 × 20+2 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) LI-BFRC, 1 × 20+2 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) |
OP: 50% AOP Cuff width: 10 cm |
SBP, DBP (auscultatory) CO, HR and SV (impedance cardiography) TPR = MAP/TPR |
In both exercises: SBP: LI-BFRC > (LI = HI) DBP: LI-BFRC > (LI = HI) CO: LI-BFRC = LI = HI HR: (LI-BFRC = HI) > LI SV: LI-BFRC = LI = HI TPR: LI-BFRC = LI = HI |
| Vieira et al. (167) | 12 men | Unilateral biceps curl; LI, 1 × 3 min (30% 1RM) LI-BFRC, 1 × 3 min (30% 1RM) |
OP: 120 mmHg Cuff width: NR |
SBP, DBP (oscillometric) HR (heart rate monitor) CBF, CVR (venous occlusion plethysmography) |
SBP: LI-BFRC > LI DBP: LI-BFRC > LI HR: LI-BFRC > LI CBF: LI-BFRC < LI CVR: LI-BFRC > LI |
| Staunton et al. (155) | 13 men | 45° leg press; LI, 1 × 30+3 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) LI-BFRC, 1 × 30+3 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) |
OP: 60% AOP Cuff width: 10.5 cm |
SBP, DBP (auscultatory) CO (gas rebreathing technique) HR (heart rate monitor) SV = CO/HR TPR = MAP/CO |
SBP: LI-BFRC > LI DBP: LI-BFRC > LI CO: LI-BFRC = LI HR: LI-BFRC > LI SV: LI-BFRC = LI TPR: LI-BFRC = LI |
| Subjects with chronic diseases | |||||
| Araújo et al. (6) | 14 women (7 per group); (HT) | Leg extension; HI, 3 × 15 (50% 1RM) LI-BFRC, 3 × 15 (30% 1RM) |
OP: 80% AOP Cuff width: 18 cm |
SBP, DBP (oscillometric) HR (heart rate monitor) |
SBP: LI-BFRC > HI DBP: LI-BFRC > HI HR: LI-BFRC = HI |
| Pinto et al. (124) | 18 women; (HT) |
Knee extension; HI, 3 × 10 reps (65% 1RM) LI-BFRC, 3 × 10 reps (20% 1RM) |
OP: 80% AOP Cuff width: 18 cm |
SBP, DBP, CO, SV, HR, TPR (finger photoplethysmography) |
During sets: SBP: LI-BFRC = HI DBP: LI-BFRC = HI CO: LI-BFRC = HI SV: LI-BFRC = HI HR: LI-BFRC = HI TPR: LI-BFRC = HI Interval between sets: SBP: LI-BFRC > HI DBP: LI-BFRC > HI CO: LI-BFRC < HI SV: LI-BFRC < HI HR: LI-BFRC = HI TPR: LI-BFRC > HI |
| Pinto and Polito (125) | 12 women; (HT) |
45° leg press; HI, 3 × 8 reps (65% 1RM) LI, 3 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) LI-BFRC, 3 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) |
100% AOP Cuff width: 18 cm |
SBP, DBP, CO, SV, HR, TPR (finger photoplethysmography) |
During sets: SBP: LI-BFRC > HI > LI DBP: LI-BFRC > (HI = LI) CO: (HI = LI) > LI-BFRC HR: LI-BFRC > (HI = LI) SV: LI-BFRC = HI = LI TPR: LI-BFRC > (HI = LI) Interval between sets: SBP: LI-BFRC > (HI = LI) DBP: LI-BFRC > (HI = LI) CO: (HI = LI) > LI-BFRC HR: LI-BFRC> HI; LI-BFR = LI; HI = LI SV: LI-BFRC = HI = LI TPR: LI-BFRC > (HI = LI) |
| Madarame et al. (85) | 9; 7 men 2 women (stable patients with CAD) |
Knee extension; LI, 1 × 30+3 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) LI-BFRC, 1 × 30+3 × 15 reps (20% 1RM) |
OP: 200 mmHg Cuff width = 5 cm |
HR (oxymeter) | HR: LI-BFRC > LI |
LI, low-intensity resistance exercise; HI, high-intensity resistance exercise; LI-BFRC, low-intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction continuously applied throughout exercise sets and interset pauses; LI-BFRI, low-intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction interrupted during interset pauses; HT, hypertensives; CAD, coronary artery disease; BFR, blood flow restriction; CV, cardiovascular; LOP, limb occlusion pressure; CON, control session; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; MAP, mean arterial pressure; HR, heart rate; CO, cardiac output; SV, stroke volume; TPR, total peripheral resistance; OP, occlusion pressure; AOP, arterial occlusion pressure; CBF, calf blood flow; CVR, calf vascular resistance; NR, not reported; max, maximal repetitions. MAP was only presented when no information about SBP or DBP was provided.