title: Increase in maximal oxygen uptake following 2-week walk training with blood flow occlusion in athletes.
abstract: Walk training with blood flow occlusion (OCC-walk) leads to muscle hypertrophy; however, cardiorespiratory endurance in response to OCC-walk is unknown. Ischemia enhances the adaptation to endurance training such as increased maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂(max)) and muscle glycogen content. Thus, we investigated the effects of an OCC-walk on cardiorespiratory endurance, anaerobic power, and muscle strength in elite athletes. College basketball players participated in walk training with (n = 7) and without (n = 5) blood flow occlusion. Five sets of a 3-min walk (4-6 km/h at 5% grade) and a 1-min rest between the walks were performed twice a day, 6 days a week for 2 weeks. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures (groups x time) was utilized (P < 0.05). Interactions were found in VO₂(max) (P = 0.011) and maximal minute ventilation (VE(max); P = 0.019). VO₂(max) (11.6%) and VE(max) (10.6%) were increased following the OCC-walk. For the cardiovascular adaptations of the OCC-walk, hemodynamic parameters such as stroke volume (SV) and heart rate (HR) at rest and during OCC-walk were compared between the first and the last OCC-walk sessions. Although no change in hemodynamics was found at rest, during the last OCC-walk session SV was increased in all five sets (21.4%) and HR was decreased in the third (12.3%) and fifth (15.0%) sets. With anaerobic power an interaction was found in anaerobic capacity (P = 0.038) but not in peak power. Anaerobic capacity (2.5%) was increased following the OCC-walk. No interaction was found in muscle strength. In conclusion, the 2-week OCC-walk significantly increases VO₂(max) and VE(max) in athletes. The OCC-walk training might be used in the rehabilitation for athletes who intend to maintain or improve endurance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science, Korea Institute of Sport Science, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Saejong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jong Kyung
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hyun Gook
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Beekley
authors.forename: Hosung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nho
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001490:Basketball; D015444:Exercise; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen