Blood Flow Restricted Electrical Stimulations to Prevent or Attenuate Symptoms of Muscle Damage.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine if performing electrical stimulations (E-STIM) under blood flow restriction (BFR) would result in a greater protective effect against symptoms of muscle damage. 18 individuals (9 females) completed a damaging bout of exercise followed by a low frequency E-STIM treatment protocol on both arms, one of which was completed under BFR. The treatment protocol was then repeated 24-hours post-exercise. There were main effects of time for muscle thickness (pre: 3.5 cm; 48 h post: 3.8 cm; BF₁₀ = 88.476), discomfort (pre: 0.0 au; 48 h post: 4.2 au; BF₁₀ = 241.996), and isometric strength (pre: 278 N; 48 h post: 232 N; BF₁₀ = 10,289.894) which all changed as a result of the damaging exercise protocol, but there were no differences between conditions [all Bayes Factors (BF₁₀) < 0.28]. The effectiveness of low frequency E-STIM for preventing the onset of exercise-induced muscle damage would not appear to be enhanced if performed under BFR.