Does a resistance exercise session with continuous or intermittent blood flow restriction promote muscle damage and increase oxidative stress?

• Published in: Journal of sports sciences 2018-01, Vol.36 (1), p.104-110
• Main Authors: Neto, Gabriel R., Novaes, Jefferson S., Salerno, Verônica P., Gonçalves, Michel M., Batista, Gilmário R., Cirilo-Sousa, Maria S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomarkers - blood; Blood flow; cellular data; Creatine; Creatine kinase; Creatine Kinase - blood; Exercise; Humans; kaatsu; Kinases; L-Lactate dehydrogenase; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase - blood; Lactic acid; Male; Military Personnel; Muscle Strength - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - blood supply; Muscle, Skeletal - injuries; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Muscular system; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - physiology; Protein Carbonylation; Regional Blood Flow - physiology; resistance training; Resistance Training - methods; Sports medicine; Strength training; Thiobarbituric acid; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances - metabolism; Uric acid; Uric Acid - blood; Vascular occlusion; Vitamin E; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0264-0414; 1466-447X
• DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2017.1283430

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of low-load resistance exercise (LLRE) with continuous and intermittent blood flow restriction (BFR) on the creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), protein carbonyl (PC), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) and uric acid (UA) levels in military men. The study included 10 recreationally trained men aged 19 ± 0.82 years who underwent the following experimental protocols in random order on separate days (72-96 h): 4 LLRE sessions at a 20% 1RM (one-repetition maximum [1RM]) with continuous BFR (LLRE + CBFR); 4 LLRE sessions at 20% 1RM with intermittent BFR (LLRE + IBFR) and 4 high-intensity resistance exercise (HIRE) sessions at 80% 1RM. The CK and LDH (markers of muscle damage) levels were measured before exercise (BE), 24 h post-exercise and 48 h post-exercise, and the PC, TBARS and UA (markers of oxidative stress) levels were measured BE and immediately after each exercise session. There was a significant increase in CK in the HIRE 24 post-exercise samples compared with the LLRE + CBFR and LLRE + IBFR (P = 0.035, P = 0.036, respectively), as well as between HIRE 48 post-exercise and LLRE + CBFR (P = 0.049). Additionally, there was a significant increase in CK in the LLRE + CBFR samples BE and immediately after each exercise (Δ = 21.9%) and in the HIRE samples BE and immediately after each exercise, BE and 24 post-exercise, and BE and 48 post-exercise (Δ values of 35%, 177.6%, and 177.6%, respectively). However, there were no significant changes in LDH, PC, TBARS, and UA between the protocols (P > 0.05). Therefore, a physical exercise session with continuous or intermittent BFR did not promote muscle damage; moreover, neither protocol seemed to affect the oxidative stress markers.