Effects of Different Resistance Exercise and Occlusion Pressures on Metabolic Stress and Anabolic Hormonal Responses after Exercise

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different resistance loads (70% and 40% 1 RM [repetition maximum]) combined with different occlusion pressures (130% and 70% SBP [systolic blood pressure]) on metabolic stress and anabolic hormonal response after exercise. Fifteen healthy males voluntarily participated in this study. A counter-balance order experimental design was used in this investigation. On the experiment day, each subject performed a single bout of bilateral leg extension (5 sets, 12 repetitions with 1 min rest for each set) under the following five experimental conditions: (1) high intensity resistance exercise (HR, 70% 1 RM), (2) low intensity resistance exercise (LR, 40% 1 RM), (3) HR with low occlusion pressure (HRLO, 70% 1 RM + 70% SBP), (4) LR with high occlusion pressure (LRHO, 40% 1 RM+130% SBP), and (5) LR with low occlusion pressure (LRLO, 40% 1 RM+70% SBP). Blood biomarkers (i.e. hormones and lactate) were measured at prior to exercise (pre), and 0, 15, 30, 60 min after (post) exercise. The maximal isometric strength and electromyography of vastus lateralis were compared at pre and post-60. Results indicated that the GH of HRLO was higher at post-0, post-15 and post-30 than that at pre-exercise. The testosterone of HRLO was higher at post compared to LRHO, LRLO and LR. Furthermore, HRLO induced greater metabolic and physiological stress responses (LA and RPE) and a greater decline of muscular strength with more muscle fiber recruitment. We concluded that high intensity resistance exercise combined with low occlusion pressure would elevate metabolic stress and reduce maximal strength performance, thereby stimulating higher GH and testosterone responses. Our results thus suggest that this exercise model would have the positive benefits on muscle anabolic effect.