Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: May 12, 2019
Date Accepted: Aug 7, 2019
The effects of resistance exercise with blood flow restriction on muscle vasodilatation and arterial stiffness in elders with low gait speed: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
During ageing, a significant loss of muscle mass, strength and power is associated with a decline in daily functional capacities. Traditionally, resistance training is prescribed to prevent or reverse the skeletal muscle weakness, but the required training intensity may be too demanding for older people with poor physical performance. KAATSU training, originally developed in Japan, combines physical training with blood flow restriction (BFR). It has been reported that KAATSU training enhances muscle hypertrophy in many populations. However, few studies, have evaluated the effects of resistance exercises with BFR in elderly people, and how it affects vascular structure and function. The findings of this study will have important implications in the rehabilitation treatments in the elderly population.
Objective:
The purpose of the present study is to evaluate 1) the acute and chronic effects of resistance exercise with BFR on vascular health in elder people with low gait speed and 2) whether low-load resistance training with BFR elicits a similar strength and gait speed gain to that elicited by conventional resistance training without BFR.
Methods:
This is a randomized controlled trial in elders with low gait speed. Two study arms of 13 participants each will perform resistance exercises with and without BFR, respectively. The 2 groups are as follows: control will perform conventional resistance exercises (60% of 1 RM) and the KAATSU group will perform the low-load resistance exercise with BFR (20% of 1 RM) for 12 weeks. Pulse wave velocity, venous occlusion plethysmography and flow- mediated dilatation by ultrasound are used to assess arterial stiffness, muscle blood flow and endothelial function, respectively. The secondary outcomes are gait speed, strength and quality of life. All measures will be performed before and after the training program.
Results:
This research study is in progress. Recruitment has started, and data collection is expected to be finished in August 2020.
Conclusions:
The findings of this study will have important implications in the rehabilitation treatments in the elderly population. Clinical Trial: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03272737
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