Acute effects of different external compression with blood flow restriction on force-velocity profile during squat and bench press exercises

• Published in: Biology of sport 2023-01, Vol.40 (1), p.209-216
• Main Authors: Serrano-Ramon, Josep M, Cortell-Tormo, Juan M, Bautista, Iker, García-Jaén, Miguel, Chulvi-Medrano, Iván
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: compression; Original Paper; power; resistance training occlusion; sport; strength
• ISSN: 0860-021X; 2083-1862
• DOI: 10.5114/biolsport.2023.112093

The aim was to compare the acute effects of bench press (BP) and squat (SQ) exercises with blood flow restriction (BFR) (40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of the complete arterial occlusion pressure (AOP)) and without BFR (CON) on the mean propulsive (Vel ) and maximum (Vel ) bar velocity. Fourteen healthy, physically active males (age, 23.6 ± 4.1 years; height, 1.85 ± 0.11 m; body weight 85.4 ± 4.1 kg) took part in the study. There was one set for each testing condition (CON, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%) with 6 repetitions for BP and 6 repetitions for SQ, at 60% of 1RM, and 3 minutes of recovery between sets. The results showed statistically significant differences of the sets with 80% BFR vs. CON (mean difference [MD] = 0.035 m · s , p < 0.05, ES = 0.52 [1.02-0.03]) and 100% BFR sets vs. CON (MD = 0.074, p < 0.001, ES = 1.08 [1.79-0.38]) for BP. In the SQ exercise, statistically significant differences were found between 100% BFR vs. CON (DM = 0.031 m · s , p < 0.05), vs. 100% BFR 40% (MD = 0.04 m · s , p < 0.05). Trend analysis showed a statistically significant linear trend (F[1,9] = 34.9, p < 0.001, F[1,13] = 27.32, p < 0.001) for the Vel in relation to the different levels of BFR. In conclusion, our results showed that BFR levels above ˜80% AOP (BP) and ˜100% AOP (SQ) produce a Vel improvement at 60% 1RM.