Research article - (2014)13, 91 - 96
Hormone Responses to an Acute Bout of Low Intensity Blood Flow Restricted Resistance Exercise in College-Aged Females
Eonho Kim1, Lee D. Gregg1, Daeyeol Kim1, Vanessa D. Sherk2, Michael G. Bemben1, Debra A. Bemben2,
1Neuromuscular Research Laboratory,
2Bone Density Research Laboratory, Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, USA

Debra A. Bemben
✉ University of Oklahoma, Department of Health and Exercise Science, 1401 Asp Ave Room 119 HHC, Norman, OK USA 73019
Email: dbemben@ou.edu
Received: 20-05-2013 -- Accepted: 23-09-2013
Published (online): 20-01-2014
ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the acute hormone response to exercise differed between low intensity blood flow restricted resistance exercise and traditional high-intensity resistance exercise in college-aged women. A total of 13 healthy women (aged 18-25 yrs), who were taking oral contraceptives, volunteered for this randomized crossover study. Subjects performed a session of low intensity blood flow restricted resistance exercise (BFR) (20% of 1-RM, 1 set 30 reps, 2 sets 15 reps) and a session of traditional high intensity resistance exercise without blood flow restriction (HI) (3 sets of 10 repetitions at 80% of 1-RM) on separate days. Fasting serum cortisol and growth hormone (GH) and blood lactate responses were measured in the morning pre and post exercise sessions. GH (Change: HI: 6.34 ± 1.72; BFR: 4.22 ± 1.40 ng·mL-1) and cortisol (Change: HI: 4.46 ± 1.53; BFR: 8.10 ± 2.30 ug·dL-1) significantly (p < 0.05) increased immediately post exercise for both protocols compared to baseline and there were no significant differences between the protocols for these responses. In contrast, blood lactate levels (HI: 7.35 ± 0.45; BFR: 4.02 ± 0.33 mmol·L-1) and ratings of perceived exertion were significantly (p < 0.01) higher for the HI protocol. In conclusion, acute BFR restricted resistance exercise stimulated similar increases in anabolic and catabolic hormone responses in young women.
Key words: Growth Hormone, Cortisol, blood flow restriction

Key Points
  • Growth hormone and cortisol levels significantly increased after a single bout of low intensity blood flow restricted resistance exercise in young women.
  • There were no significant differences in hormone responses between the low intensity blood flow restricted protocol and the traditional high intensity higher total workload protocol.
  • Low intensity blood flow restricted resistance exercise provides a sufficient stimulus to elicit anabolic and catabolic hormone responses in young women.








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Hormone Responses to an Acute Bout of Low Intensity Blood Flow Restricted Resistance Exercise in College-Aged Females
Eonho Kim, Lee D. Gregg, Daeyeol Kim, Vanessa D. Sherk, Michael G. Bemben, Debra A. Bemben
2014(13), 91 - 96.
DOI: https://doi.org/