Blood Flow Restriction Improves Executive Function after Walking

PURPOSE

Blood flow restriction (BFR) walking is recognized as a beneficial strategy for increasing skeletal muscle mass and strength. No study has examined the effect of BFR exercise on cognitive functions, including executive function (EF). In this study, we examined the effect of BFR walking on EF.

METHODS

We performed two studies, at rest and exercise, with BFR or non-BFR (NBFR) in a crossover design. Sitting rest was performed for 15 min (study 1, n = 8). Exercise was programmed at five sets of 2-min walking at 5 km·h with 1-min rest intervals (study 2, n = 16). The BFR condition was achieved using 200 mm Hg pressure cuffs placed around the proximal region of the thighs. The NBFR condition involved no pressure cuffs. EF was assessed using the color-word Stroop task before and after each condition.

RESULTS

In study 1, there were no significant effects on EF parameters for both BFR and NBFR conditions, suggesting that BFR alone does not improve EF. In study 2, incongruent reaction time shortened after BFR walking compared with that before walking (P = 0.001). Furthermore, the reverse Stroop interference score decreased after BFR walking compared with that before walking (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that, even with a mild exercise, BFR walking improves EF independently of the effect of BFR alone or walking alone.

Acute fatigue, and perceptual responses to resistance exercise

INTRODUCTION

Despite assumptions, there is an absence of research on acute fatigue responses to high- and low-load and advanced technique resistance exercise.

METHODS

Trained males (n = 8; age 27.2 ± 7.4 years, height 180.0 ± 6.6 cm, weight: 86.6 ± 10.3 kg) were assessed for decrement in maximal voluntary isometric torque (MVIT) and perceived effort and discomfort after heavier load (HL; 80% MVIT), lighter load (LL; 30% MVIT), forced repetition (FR), and breakdown set (BD) training protocols.

RESULTS

Analyses revealed a significant reduction in MVIT (P < 0.05) with a significant between-condition effect, and significant post-hoc pairwise comparisons between LL and both HL (P = 0.044) and FR (P = 0.013). There were no significant between-condition effects for effort or discomfort (P > 0.05).

DISCUSSION

Fatigue as a decrement in force production appears to follow a more complex relationship than simply 100% minus the force requirements of the task relative to a maximal voluntary contraction. Muscle Nerve 56: E141-E146, 2017.