Blood flow restriction combined with nordic hamstring exercise does not impair endothelial function but does not increase neuromuscular activation

IF 1.3 4区医学 Q4 PHYSIOLOGY

Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging Pub Date : 2025-01-06 DOI:10.1111/cpf.12926

Fuat Yuksel, Nevin Guzel, Ömer Burak Tor, Koray Akkan

{"title":"Blood flow restriction combined with nordic hamstring exercise does not impair endothelial function but does not increase neuromuscular activation","authors":"Fuat Yuksel, Nevin Guzel, Ömer Burak Tor, Koray Akkan","doi":"10.1111/cpf.12926","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Background</h3>\n \n <p>Optimizing hamstring exercises is crucial for injury prevention and performance. This study explored the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) during Nordic hamstring exercises (NHE) on hamstring muscle activation and vascular function.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Methods</h3>\n \n <p>A randomized, single-blind study included 14 healthy, physically active males (mean age: 27.5 years). Each participant's lower extremities were randomly assigned to BFR or control groups. In the BFR group, blood flow was restricted to 60% of arterial occlusion pressure. Participants performed three sets of five NHE repetitions. Endothelial function was assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) via Doppler ultrasound before and after exercise. Surface electromyography (EMG) recorded neuromuscular activation of the semitendinosus (ST) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles during exercises.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>FMD values showed no significant differences between BFR and control groups (F(1,13) = 0.156, <i>p</i> = 0.7, partial η² = 0.012). Neuromuscular activations of ST and BF muscles decreased across sets in both groups but did not differ significantly between groups (ST: F(2,26) = 1.172, <i>p</i> = 0.448, partial η² = 0.09; BF: F(2,26) = 1.442, <i>p</i> = 0.527, partial η² = 0.1).</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusions</h3>\n \n <p>BFR did not produce acute additional effects on muscle activation or endothelial function compared to standard NHE. This suggests that incorporating BFR in NHE may not enhance immediate neuromuscular or vascular responses. Further research is needed to evaluate its long-term benefits.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":10504,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cpf.12926","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"PHYSIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Optimizing hamstring exercises is crucial for injury prevention and performance. This study explored the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) during Nordic hamstring exercises (NHE) on hamstring muscle activation and vascular function.

Methods

A randomized, single-blind study included 14 healthy, physically active males (mean age: 27.5 years). Each participant's lower extremities were randomly assigned to BFR or control groups. In the BFR group, blood flow was restricted to 60% of arterial occlusion pressure. Participants performed three sets of five NHE repetitions. Endothelial function was assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) via Doppler ultrasound before and after exercise. Surface electromyography (EMG) recorded neuromuscular activation of the semitendinosus (ST) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles during exercises.

Results

FMD values showed no significant differences between BFR and control groups (F(1,13) = 0.156, p = 0.7, partial η² = 0.012). Neuromuscular activations of ST and BF muscles decreased across sets in both groups but did not differ significantly between groups (ST: F(2,26) = 1.172, p = 0.448, partial η² = 0.09; BF: F(2,26) = 1.442, p = 0.527, partial η² = 0.1).

Conclusions

BFR did not produce acute additional effects on muscle activation or endothelial function compared to standard NHE. This suggests that incorporating BFR in NHE may not enhance immediate neuromuscular or vascular responses. Further research is needed to evaluate its long-term benefits.

查看原文本刊更多论文

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging 医学-生理学

CiteScore

3.40

自引率

5.60%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging publishes reports on clinical and experimental research pertinent to human physiology in health and disease. The scope of the Journal is very broad, covering all aspects of the regulatory system in the cardiovascular, renal and pulmonary systems with special emphasis on methodological aspects. The focus for the journal is, however, work that has potential clinical relevance. The Journal also features review articles on recent front-line research within these fields of interest. Covered by the major abstracting services including Current Contents and Science Citation Index, Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging plays an important role in providing effective and productive communication among clinical physiologists world-wide.