title: The Effect of Cuff Width on Muscle Adaptations after Blood Flow Restriction Training.
abstract: Blood flow restriction in combination with low-load resistance training has been shown to increase muscle size and strength; however, the influence of cuff width on these adaptations is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to determine the influence of different cuff widths on muscle size and strength, and also investigate whether a wider cuff would result in less adaptation compared with a narrow cuff when inflated to the same relative pressure (80% arterial occlusion pressure).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven physically active males had their arms randomly divided into two separate conditions: low-load blood flow restriction exercise with a narrow cuff (BFR + N, 5 cm) and low-load blood flow restriction exercise with a wide cuff (BFR + W, 10 cm). All participants underwent 12 wk of unilateral elbow flexion at 20% of their one-repetition maximum (1RM). The elbow flexion strength (1RM), elbow flexor muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), arterial blood flow, training volume, RPE, and rating of perceived pain were assessed before and after training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elbow flexion 1RM and CSA significantly increased in both conditions (BFR + N = 13.5% and 9% vs BFR + W = 11.9% and 11.2%, respectively). The arterial blood flow was significantly reduced when 80% of the arterial occlusion pressure was applied in both conditions (BFR + N = 61.2% and BFR + W = 63.5%). There were no significant differences in the training volume, RPE, or rating of perceived pain between conditions (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We wish to suggest that, regardless of cuff width, both protocols produced similar increases in 1RM and elbow flexor muscle CSA, and these responses may be related to the similar training volume and/or similar reductions in arterial blood flow produced when both cuffs were inflated to the same relative pressure.
authors.affiliation: 1School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, SP, BRAZIL; 2Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS; and 3America's Diagnostics S/A, São Paulo, SP, BRAZIL.
authors.forename: Gilberto Candido
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Laurentino
authors.forename: Jeremy Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Loenneke
authors.forename: Emerson Luiz
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Eliza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Wagner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Iared
authors.forename: Valmor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tricoli
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D004550:Elbow / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011312:Pressure; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D055070:Resistance Training; D014111:Tourniquets; D055815:Young Adult