Hemodynamic responses and energy expenditure during blood flow restriction exercise in obese population.

Purpose The study investigated the acute effects of different initial restrictive pressures ( IRP; tightness of cuffs before inflation with air) on heart rate ( HR), systolic ( SBP) and diastolic blood pressure ( DBP), rating of perceived exertion ( RPE), respiratory exchange ratio ( RER) and energy expenditure ( EE) during constant-load upright cycling. Methods In a within subject study design, 34 obese men (age = 24·3, n = 18) and women (age = 23·1, n = 16) completed three cycling sessions (two blood flow restriction and one control sessions). The cycling exercise was performed with an external load of 1kp at 50 rpm for 20 min with 1-min rest after the 10th-min. The blood flow restriction ( BFR) cuffs were placed on the thigh of both legs during BFR sessions and IRP and IRP of ~40 or ~60 mmHg were applied in random order. Results There were significant condition × time interactions for HR, SBP, RPE and RER and time × gender interactions for HR and SBP. There were also significant condition and time main effects for HR, SBP, RPE and RER ( P<0·01) and a significant condition effect for EE ( P<0·05). Conclusion The intensity of exercise with BFR was higher and affected by IRP, but the subjects perceived the effort as 'light'. Low-intensity cycling with BFR shows potential to reduce the time requirement per session to elicit greater EE while placing greater demands on the circulatory system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]