title: Effect of cuff type on arterial occlusion.
abstract: Blood flow restriction (BFR) by itself or in combination with exercise has been shown to be beneficial for skeletal muscle. Despite most of the literature showing positive effects of BFR on skeletal muscle, not all studies show a benefit of BFR exercise compared with exercise without BFR. Some of the discrepancy can be explained by differences in methodology. For example, wide (13·5 cm) nylon cuffs result in arterial occlusion at a much lower pressure than narrow elastic (5 cm) cuffs. However, although it is evident that there are differences between elastic narrow (5 cm) cuffs and nylon wide (13·5 cm) cuffs, it is presently unclear whether or not there are differences between two cuffs of similar size (5 cm) but different material (nylon versus elastic). We hypothesized that although the cuffs are of similar size, there would be significant differences in arterial occlusion between two cuff materials. With the participants supine, in a randomized order, either the nylon (5 × 83 cm) or elastic (5 × 135 cm) cuffs were applied to the most proximal portion of each leg. Arterial blood flow was detected using a hand-held bidirectional Doppler probe placed on the posterior tibial artery. A paired sample t-test found no difference between cuff types for arterial occlusion pressure. In conclusion, arterial occlusion pressure is not different between two cuffs of a similar size but different material. This suggests that either elastic or nylon cuffs of the same width should restrict blood flow similarly at the same pressure during resting conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Exercise Science, Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA. jploenneke@ou.edu
authors.forename: Jeremy P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Loenneke
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Thiebaud
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Fahs
authors.forename: Lindy M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rossow
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bemben
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D004548:Elasticity; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D008922:Mississippi; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply*; D009757:Nylons; D011312:Pressure; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D016683:Supine Position; D014111:Tourniquets; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009757:Nylons