Effect of Aerobic Training with Blood Flow Restriction on Strength and Hypertrophy: A Meta-analysis.

The objective of this meta-analysis is to compare the effects on muscle strength and hypertrophy of low and high-intensity aerobic training with BFR (LI-BFR and HI-BFR) versus low and high-intensity aerobic training without BFR (LI and HI). The search was performed in five databases, by two independent researchers, and the terms and keywords used to optimize the searches were related to blood flow restriction and aerobic training. All studies were evaluated for methodological quality using the PEDro scale and for quality of evidence using the GRADE system. Meta-analyses were conducted using RevMan software. After data extraction, 11 studies met all eligibility criteria and were included in the systematic review. The results of the overall analysis between LI-BFR vs. LI showed a significant difference in muscle strength of knee extensors; for hypertrophy, LI was superior to LI-BFR with clinical relevance. Comparing HI-BFR vs. HI there was no superiority for muscle strength. In conclusion, for strength gains very low-quality evidence was found to support no superiority between LI-BFR and HI-BFR compared to LI and HI, respectively. For muscle hypertrophy, superiority of LI was found compared to LI-BFR, with a very low level of evidence.

Acute effects of resistance exercise with blood flow restriction on cardiovascular response: a meta-analysis.

Aim: To compare the acute effects of low-load resistance training associated with blood flow restriction (LLRT-BFR) with low-load resistance training (LLRT) and high-load resistance training (HLRT) on cardiovascular outcomes in healthy individuals. Methods: This review was registered and the studies were selected using seven databases. Randomized controlled clinical trials were included that evaluated LLRT-BFR compared with LLRT and HLRT in young individuals for the cardiovascular outcomes. Results: 19 studies were included. In the comparison of LLRT-BFR with HLRT, there were significant differences for cardiac output and heart rate - with reduced values and in favor of LLRT-BFR. Conclusion: There are no greater acute effects of the addition of blood flow restriction, with the exception of the reduction in cardiac output and heart rate for LLRT-BFR compared with HLRT.

Effects of different ischemic preconditioning occlusion pressures on muscle damage induced by eccentric exercise: a study protocol for a randomized controlled placebo clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Due to its greater generation of muscle strength and less metabolic demand, eccentric exercise has been widely used in rehabilitation and for improving physical fitness. However, eccentric exercise can induce muscle damage by providing structural changes and reduced muscle function, so even with the protection caused by the repeated bout effect from eccentric exercise, it is necessary to seek alternatives to reduce this damage caused by stress. Thus, ischemic preconditioning could represent an aid to reduce the damage muscle or increase the protective effect caused by eccentric exercise. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of ischemic preconditioning, using different occlusion pressures, on acute and delayed responses to perceptual outcomes, markers of muscle damage, and performance in post-eccentric exercise recovery. METHODS: A randomized controlled placebo clinical trial will be carried out with 80 healthy men aged 18 to 35 years who will be randomly divided into four groups: ischemic preconditioning using total occlusion pressure, ischemic preconditoning with 40% more than total occlusion pressure, placebo (10 mmHg), and control. The ischemic preconditioning protocol will consist of four cycles of ischemia and reperfusion of five minutes each. All groups will perform an eccentric exercise protocol, and assessments will be carried out before, immediately after, and 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after the end of the eccentric exercise to evaluate creatine kinase, blood lactate, perception of recovery using the Likert scale, being sequentially evaluated, pain by the visual analog scale, pain threshold using a pressure algometer, muscle thickness by ultrasound, muscle tone, stiffness and elasticity by myotonometry, vectors of cell integrity through electrical bioimpedance, and maximal voluntary isometric contraction using the isokinetic dynamometer. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04420819). DISCUSSION: The present study aims to present an alternative technique to reduce muscle damage caused by eccentric exercise, which is easy to apply and low cost. If the benefits are proven, ischemic preconditioning could be used in any clinical practice that aims to minimize the damage caused by exercise, presenting an advance in the prescription of eccentric exercise and directly impacting on the results of post-exercise recovery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04420819 . Registered on 19 May 2020; Last update 24 March 2021.

Effects of the Mat Pilates Method on Body Composition: Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this systematic review was to determine the efficacy of the mat Pilates method on body composition in healthy adult subjects compared with traditional exercise or control condition models. DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, PEDro, SciELO, CINAHAL, and the Cochrane Library. RESULTS: A total of 10 eligible studies were selected for revision. The findings of this review demonstrated that the mat Pilates method was not more effective than the traditional exercise or control condition models for the analyzed variables (body mass index, lean mass, body fat percentage, and abdominal circumference). Moreover, in the exploratory analysis with older people, adults, and overweight/obese individuals, the mat Pilates method was also not superior for the analyzed outcomes. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that the mat Pilates method is no better than the control condition or other types of training to reduce body composition.