Effects of low-load resistance training combined with blood flow restriction or hypoxia on muscle function and performance in netball athletes

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2012.08.009
• Publication Date: 2012-09-19T06:45:54Z
• Authors: Apiwan Manimmanakorn; Michael J. Hamlin; Jenny J. Ross; Robert Taylor; Nuttaset Manimman...
• Keywords: Adolescent; intermittent hypoxia; Athletic Performance; 796; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; vascular occlusion; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; ANZSRC::4207 Sports science and exercise; ANZSRC::5201 Applied and developmental psychology; Muscle Strength; Hypoxia; Muscle, Skeletal; endurance; Leg; ANZSRC::3202 Clinical sciences; Resistance Training; Skeletal; muscle cross-sectional area; Healthy Volunteers; 3. Good health; KAATSU; Athletes; Muscle; Female; strength; Sports

To investigate the effect of blood flow restriction or normobaric hypoxic exposure combined with low-load resistant exercise (LRE), on muscular strength and endurance.A randomised controlled trial.Well-trained netball players (n=30) took part in a 5 weeks training of knee flexor and extensor muscles in which LRE (20% of one repetition maximum) was combined with (1) an occlusion pressure of approximately 230mmHg around the upper thigh (KT, n=10), (2) hypoxic air to generate blood oxyhaemoglobin levels of approximately 80% (HT, n=10) or (3) with no additional stimulus (CT, n=10). The training was of the same intensity and amount in all groups. One to five days before and after training, participants performed a series of strength and endurance tests of the lower limbs (3-s maximal voluntary contraction [MVC3], area under 30-s force curve [MVC30], number of repetitions at 20% 1RM [Reps201RM]). In addition, the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the quadriceps and hamstrings were measured.Relative to CT, KT and HT increased MVC3 (11.0±11.9% and 15.0±13.1%), MVC30 (10.2±9.0% and 18.3±17.4%) and Reps201RM (28.9±23.7% and 23.3±24.0%, mean±90% confidence interval) after training. CSA increased by 6.6±4.5%, 6.1±5.1% and 2.9±2.7% in the KT, HT and CT groups respectively.LRE in conjunction with KT or HT can provide substantial improvements in muscle strength and endurance and may be useful alternatives to traditional training practices.