The purpose of this study was to compare and contrast cardiovascular responses during acute upper body resistance exercise (UBRE) and lower body resistance exercise (LBRE) and resting with or without blood flow restriction (BFR) in adult women. The subjects were 18 adult women (21.5 ± 2.0 years old) and it was a cross-over experimental design. Resistance exercise consisted of 20% 1-RM, 10 repetitions, and 4 sets. For UBRE, arm curl and bench press exercise, and LBRE squat and leg extension exercise were performed. The change in cardiovascular response during exercise and recovery with or without BFR was significantly different between UBRE (diastolic blood pressure: DBP, mean arterial pressure: MAP, total peripheral resistance: TPR) and LBRE (DBP, MAP, heart rate: HR, Cardiac output: CO) (p < .05). In non-BFR, DBP, MAP, SV, HR, CO, there was a difference in TPR (p < .05). It was concluded LBRE with BFR had a positive effect on the cardiovascular response of the cardiovascular system during exercise and recovery.

• The purpose of this study was to compare and contrast cardiovascular responses during acute upper body resistance exercise (UBRE) and lower body resistance exercise (LBRE) and resting with or without blood flow restriction (BFR) in adult women.

• It was concluded that LBRE using BFR had a positive effect on the cardiovascular response of the cardiovascular system during exercise and recovery.

• Our study would be relevant to providing exercise professionals, as well as healthy individuals, that the use of BFR during exercise can cause negative impacts to the body.