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. 2021 Jun 18;16(6):e0253521. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253521

Table 2. Characteristics of studies that compared muscle damage between low-load resistance exercise with and without blood flow restriction.

Reference Sujects (Age) Variable Training protocol Intensity Traininig volume Interval Pressure CW (cm) Results
EX MT TS Sets Repetitions RT+BFR (Time effect) Control (Time effect) Condition effect
Takarada et al. (2000) [13] 6 men (20–22 years) CK, IL-6 KE Bi 1s 20% of 1RM 5 Muscle failure 30s 214±7.7 mmHg 3.3 CK↔
IL-6↑(30,60, 90, 120 min, 24h post)
CK↔
IL-6↔
IL-6 was greater 30,60,90,120 min and 24h after BFRE. CK was no different between conditions.
Umbel et al. (2009) [29] (study 1) 7 men and 2 women (25±5 years) MVC, DOMS, PPT, Edema. KE Uni. 2s 35% of MVC 3 Muscle failure 90s 1.3 x bSBP 6 DOMS↑(24,48h post)
PPT↔
MVC ↔
Edema↑(24,48h post)
DOMS↑ (24h post)
PPT↔
MVC↔
Edema↑(24, 48h post)
DOMS and PPT were higher after BFRE (24h and 24, 48h post, respectively); Edema was no different between conditions; MVC was lower 24 h after BFRE.
Loenneke et al. (2013) [31] 7 women and 2 men (24±3 years) MVC KE Uni. 1.5s 30% of 1RM 4 30x15x15x15 30s 60% of AOP 5 MVC↓(0-1h post) MVC ↓ (0h post) MVC was lower immediately after and 1h after BRFE, but it was not different between conditions 24h after the tested protocols.
Wernbom et al. (2012) [30] 8 men (26±3 year) and 4 women (24±2 years) MVC, DOMS, tetranectina. KE Uni. 1.5s 30% of 1RM 5 Muscle failure 45s Women = 90 mmHg
Men = 100 mmHg
13.5 MCV↓ (0, 24, 48h post)
DOMS↑ (24, 48, 72h post)
Tetranectina↑ (1, 24, 48h post)
MCV↓ (0, 24, 48h post)
DOMS↑ (24, 48, 72h post)
Tetranectina↑ (24h post)
MVC was lower only immediately after BFRE; DOMS was no different between conditions; Tetranectin was higher 24 hours after BFRE.
Wilson et al. (2013) [32] 12 men (21±3years) DOMS, Edema, Power. LP Bi --- 30% of 1RM 4 30x15x15x15 30s ---
7.6 Edema↑ (0, 1, 5 min post)
Power↓ (24h post)
DOMS↔
Edema ↔
Power ↓ (24h post)
DOMS ↔
Edema was greater after 0,5,10 min after BFRE. The other variables were not different between conditions.
Thiebaud et al. (2014) [33] 9 men (22±3 years) DOMS, ROM, Edema, MVC. AF Uni. 2s 30% of 1RM 4 30x15x15x15 30s 120 mmHg 3.3 MVC↓ (Post)
ROM ↔
Edema ↔
DOMS ↔
MVC↓ (Post)
ROM↔
Edema↔
DOMS ↔
No differences were reported in any of the variables investigated between conditions.
Yassuda et al. (2015) [27] 10 men (27±5years) DOMS, Edema AF Uni 1.2s 20% of 1RM 4 Muscle failure 180 s
30s
160 mmHg 3 DOMS↑ (24,48,96h post)
Edema↑ (0, 15min, 30 min. 60 min)
DOMS↑(24,48,96h post)
Edema↑ (0, 15min, 30 min. 60 min)
No differences were reported in any of the variables investigated between conditions.
Nielsen et al. (2017) [14] Study 1 (3 weeks) 20 men (BFRE: 23±2 years; Control:24±3 years) Macrófagos (pró e anti-inflamatórios) Tenascin-C KE Uni. 1.5s 20% of 1RM 4 Muscle failure 30s 100 mmHg 13.5 CD68+ / CD206 - ↑ (3 week post)
CD68 + / CD206 + ↑
(3 week post)
CD68-/CD206+ ↑ (8 days post)
Tenascin-C ↔
CD68 + / CD206—MP↑ (3 week post)
CD68 + / CD206 + ↔
CD68-/CD206+ ↑ (3 week post)
Tenascin-C ↔
We have not identified statistical reports for comparison between groups.
Brandner e Warmington (2017) [37] 17 men (23±3 years) DOMS AF Uni 2s 20% of 1 RM 4 30x15x15x15 30s 0.8 x bSBP 10.5 DOMS↑ (24,48h post) DOMS ↔ DOMS was higher 24,48,72h after BFRE.
1.3 x bSBP DOMS↑ (24,48,72h post)

EX = Exercise; MT = Mode of training; TS = Training speed; CW = Cuff width; RT + BFR = Resistance training with blood flow restriction; CK = creatine kinase; IL-6 = Interleukin 6; MVC = maximum voluntary contraction; 1RM = 1 maximum repetition; LP = leg press; KE = knee extension; KF = knee flexion; AF = arm flexion; ECC = eccentric; CON = concentric; bSBP = braquial systolic blood pressure; AOP = arterial occlusion pressure; mmHg = millimeters of mercury; DOMS = Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness; PPT = pain–pressure threshold; ROM = Range of motion; BFRE = Exercise with restricted blood flow.