Cardiovascular Physiological Effects Generated by Exercise with Restriction of Blood Flow: A Mini Review

Blood flow restriction exercise is a training method that partially restricts arterial flow and total venous flow in skeletal musculature during exercise. The study aims to demonstrate the physiological cardiovascular effects generated by exercise with blood flow restriction, as well as to point out evidence about the safety in the application of the method. Exercise with blood flow restriction is capable of causing beneficial physiological changes in the cardiovascular system and seems to be a safe method of application together with physical exercise, however standardization measures of the method need to be better studied with regard to individuals with cardiovascular changes. Check for updates catabolic signaling, and increased recruitment of fast-twitch fibers. However, blood flow restriction also demonstrates cardiovascular changes in physiology and consequently benefits in populations with cardiovascular pathologies [2]. The aim of this review is to demonstrate the physiological cardiovascular effects generated by exercise with blood flow restriction, as well as to point out evidence about the safety in the application of the method with regard to possible vascular damage. Theoretical Reference Cardiovascular responses Central and peripheral vascular responses are accompanied by increased oxygen demand in active skeletal muscles during exercise. At the systemic level, reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were observed after using the technique. However, in the study by Jeffries, et al. no changes in blood pressure, resting heart rate or autonomic function were found [3]. There are divergences in the literature, with several studies reporting on change in pressure suggesting that more evidence is needed to understand the systemic Citation: Bonfim IS (2021) Cardiovascular Physiological Effects Generated by Exercise with Restriction of Blood Flow: A Mini Review. Arch Addict Rehabil 3(1):119-121 Bonfim. Arch Addict Rehabil 2021, 3(1):119-121 Open Access | Page 120 | and also did not find an increased risk for this complication [1,5]. An intriguing fact is that short periods of stasis can produce thrombus formation, although without adverse events. One mechanism to control the advancement of thrombus formation is through stimulation of the fibrinolytic system, and resistance training has demonstrated the ability to regulate the fibrinolytic pathway by stimulating the fibrinolytic system, increasing tissue plasminogen activator (tPA, a thrombus degrading protein in epithelial cell) [1]. Another point that deserves to be highlighted is the use of exercise with blood flow restriction in the population with hypertension. Effects on the hemodynamic system, such as increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure, were observed in patients with hypertension. It can be attributed to the accumulation of metabolites (lactate, protons, K+) and muscle metaboreflex, which results in increased sympathetic activity and increased blood pressure and heart rate [6]. The decrease in oxygen supply associated with muscle contraction is also a factor that provides a high ambient metabolic rate, which increases the afferent activity of the pressure reflex exercise, causing an increase in sympathetic nervous activity and, consequently, in blood pressure. Hypertensive individuals show increased sympathetic nervous activity, even at rest. These individuals also have dysfunction of baroreceptors and mechanoreceptors, the main mechanisms for regulating cardiovascular function during exercise [4,6]. When associated with the maladjustment of these two mechanisms, exercise with blood flow restriction can promote exacerbated sympathetic nervous activity and consequent increase in blood pressure, even with the use of low loads during exercise. However, as mentioned above, a systematic review showed that exercise with blood flow restriction promotes a reduction in peripheral vascular resistance and, after exercise, a reduction in blood pressure, supporting the application of this type of exercise in hypertensive individuals cautious. The method prescription must take into account the individual clinical variables also used in the decision-making process for the prescription of exercises that do not use blood flow restriction for hypertensive patients [2,4,7].