title: Can blood flow restriction augment muscle activation during high-load training?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blood flow restriction has been shown to augment muscle activation and increase muscle size when combined with low-load training; however, much less is known on whether blood flow restriction can augment muscle activation during high-load exercise.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether applying blood flow restriction can augment muscle activation with traditional high-load resistance exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten individuals completed two sets of elbow flexion exercise to volitional fatigue. The control arm rested for 3 min between sets while the experimental arm had blood flow restriction applied for 3 min.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The blood flow restricted arm completed significantly fewer repetitions in set 2 in comparison with set 1 [set 1: 9 (1), set 2: 4 (1); P<0·001], whereas no meaningful differences were observed in the control arm [set 1: 8 (1), set 2: 7 (1); P = 0·057]. There was no interaction for muscle activation (P = 0·851) with both conditions significantly lower at the start of set 2 [87 (26)%] in comparison with the end of set 1 [106 (40)%] or end of set 2 [103 (33)%].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of blood flow restriction does not augment muscle activation present with high-load exercise and would seem unlikely to induce greater muscle hypertrophy.
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: 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: 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: 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: Brittany R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Counts
authors.affiliation: Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Gilberto C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Laurentino
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: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D007511:Ischemia; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014111:Tourniquets; D034941:Upper Extremity; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: 
  KAATSU
  ; electromyography; muscle hypertrophy; occlusion training; resistance exercise; strength