Effects of ischaemic training on local aerobic muscle performance in man.
The aim of the study was to compare the effects of ischaemic and non-ischaemic training on aerobic performance. In 10 subjects, peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) and time to fatigue (TTF) for one-legged exercise were measured before and after 4 weeks (4 times week-1) of one-legged training. Each training session started with one leg training for 45 min with 20% blood-flow reduction induced by local application of a supra-atmospheric external pressure of 50 mmHg (ischaemic leg; I-leg). We have previously shown that this decreases leg blood flow by about 20%. The contralateral leg (non-restricted-flow leg; N-leg), serving as a control, then trained with an identical power-output profile for 45 min but without flow restriction. In the I-leg the average training-induced increments in TTF and peak VO2 were 27 and 24%, respectively. In the N-trained leg TTF and peak-VO2 increased 10 and 14%, respectively. Both increments were significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the I-trained leg. Moreover, the performance increase in the I-trained leg was exaggerated (P < 0.05) in the ischaemic test condition, i.e. there was a specificity in the training response. In conclusion, ischaemia acts as an additive stimulus to training leading to an exaggerated increase in endurance and peak-VO2 compared to identical training without blood-flow restriction. The main explanation is probably an enhanced local adaptation in the I-trained leg.
Sundberg
C J
CJ
Karolinska Institute, Department of Physiology, Stockholm, Sweden.
Eiken
O
O
Nygren
A
A
Kaijser
L
L
D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors