title: Let's talk about sex: where are the young females in blood flow restriction research?
abstract: Low-load resistance exercise with the blood flow restriction (BFR) has been shown to increase muscle size similar to that of traditional high-load resistance training. Throughout the BFR literature, there is a vast difference between the quantity of young females included in the literature compared to young males, older males and older females. Therefore, the purpose of this minireview is to discuss the underrepresentation of young females in the BFR literature and review the potential physiologic reasons as to why they may have been excluded. In conclusion, the female menstrual cycle, a normal physiological occurrence, is presumably the reason as to why majority of young females are excluded from participation in BFR studies. Instead of excluding females, we recommend that BFR studies should include both sexes and plot the results separately to determine whether a sex difference exists.
authors.affiliation: Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Brittany R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Counts
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Fitness Sciences, Lindenwood University Belleville, Belleville, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Lindy M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rossow
authors.affiliation: Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Mattocks
authors.affiliation: Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA.
authors.forename: J Grant
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Mouser
authors.affiliation: Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Jessee
authors.affiliation: Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Buckner
authors.affiliation: Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, 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, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Loenneke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply*; D018579:Patient Selection; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D035842:Research Subjects; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: blood flow restriction; females; muscle