Research article - (2010)09, 452 - 458
Effects of Low-Intensity Cycle Training with Restricted Leg Blood Flow on Thigh Muscle Volume and VO2MAX in Young Men
Takashi Abe1,, Satoshi Fujita1, Toshiaki Nakajima2, Mikako Sakamaki1, Hayao Ozaki1, Riki Ogasawara1, Masato Sugaya1, Maiko Kudo3, Miwa Kurano2, Tomohiro Yasuda1, Yoshiaki Sato2, Hiroshi Ohshima4, Chiaki Mukai4, Naokata Ishii3
1Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
2Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
3Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
4Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Tsukuba, Japan

Takashi Abe
✉ Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan 227-8563
Email: abe@k.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Received: 25-04-2010 -- Accepted: 07-06-2010
Published (online): 01-09-2010

ABSTRACT

Concurrent improvements in aerobic capacity and muscle hypertrophy in response to a single mode of training have not been reported. We examined the effects of low-intensity cycle exercise training with and without blood flow restriction (BFR) on muscle size and maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max). A group of 19 young men (mean age ± SD: 23.0 ± 1.7 years) were allocated randomly into either a BFR-training group (n=9, BFR-training) or a non-BFR control training group (n=10, CON-training), both of which trained 3 days/wk for 8 wk. Training intensity and duration were 40% of VO2max and 15 min for the BFR-training group and 40% of VO2max and 45 min for the CON-training group. MRI-measured thigh and quadriceps muscle cross-sectional area and muscle volume increased by 3.4-5.1% (P < 0.01) and isometric knee extension strength tended to increase by 7.7% (p < 0.10) in the BFR-training group. There was no change in muscle size (~0.6%) and strength (~1.4%) in the CON-training group. Significant improvements in VO2max (6.4%) and exercise time until exhaustion (15.4%) were observed in the BFR-training group (p < 0.05) but not in the CON-training group (-0.1 and 3. 9%, respectively). The results suggest that low-intensity, short-duration cycling exercise combined with BFR improves both muscle hypertrophy and aerobic capacity concurrently in young men.

Key words: Muscle hypertrophy, Aerobic exercise, Occlusion, Muscle strength

Key Points
  • Concurrent improvements in aerobic capacity and muscle hypertrophy in response to a single mode of training have not been reported.
  • In the present study, low-intensity (40% of VO2max) cycle training with BFR can elicit concurrent improvement in muscle hypertrophy and aerobic capacity.








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