title: Influence of relative blood flow restriction pressure on muscle activation and muscle adaptation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the acute and chronic skeletal muscle response to differing levels of blood flow restriction (BFR) pressure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen participants completed elbow flexion exercise with pressures from 40% to 90% of arterial occlusion. Pre/post torque measurements and electromyographic (EMG) amplitude of each set were quantified for each condition. This was followed by a separate 8-week training study of the effect of high (90% arterial occlusion) and low (40% arterial occlusion) pressure on muscle size and function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the acute study, decreases in torque were similar between pressures [-15.5 (5.9) Nm, P = 0.344]. For amplitude of the first 3 and last 3 reps there was a time effect. After training, increases in muscle size (10%), peak isotonic strength (18%), peak isokinetic torque (180°/s = 23%, 60°/s = 11%), and muscular endurance (62%) changed similarly between pressures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that higher relative pressures may not be necessary when exercising under BFR.
authors.affiliation: Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, University of Mississippi, P.O. Box, 1848, University, Mississippi 38677, USA.
authors.forename: Brittany R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Counts
authors.affiliation: Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, University of Mississippi, P.O. Box, 1848, University, Mississippi 38677, USA.
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Dankel
authors.affiliation: Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, University of Mississippi, P.O. Box, 1848, University, Mississippi 38677, USA.
authors.forename: Brian E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Exercise Science, Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA.
authors.forename: Daeyeol
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Exercise Science, Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA.
authors.forename: J Grant
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Mouser
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Exercise Science, Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA.
authors.forename: Kirsten M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Thiebaud
authors.affiliation: Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, University of Mississippi, P.O. Box, 1848, University, Mississippi 38677, USA.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Exercise Science, Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bemben
authors.affiliation: Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, University of Mississippi, P.O. Box, 1848, University, Mississippi 38677, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Loenneke
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D055070:Resistance Training; D019415:Torque; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: KAATSU; arterial occlusion; hypertrophy; perceptual response; resistance training; vascular occlusion training