Moderate-intensity exercise with blood flow restriction on cardiopulmonary kinetics and efficiency during a subsequent high-intensity exercise in young women: A cross-sectional study

Blood flow restriction (BFR) training applied prior to a subsequent exercise has been used as a method to induce changes in oxygen uptake pulmonary kinetics ([Formula: see text] O(2P)) and exercise performance. However, the effects of a moderate-intensity training associated with BFR on a subsequent high-intensity exercise on [Formula: see text] O(2P) and cardiac output (Q(T)) kinetics, exercise tolerance, and efficiency remain unknown. This prospective physiologic study was performed at the Exercise Physiology Lab, University of Brasilia. Ten healthy females (mean ± SD values: age = 21.3 ± 2.2 years; height = 1.6 ± 0.07 m, and weight = 55.6 ± 8.8 kg) underwent moderate-intensity training associated with or without BFR for 6 minutes prior to a maximal high-intensity exercise bout. [Formula: see text] O(2P), heart rate, and Q(T) kinetics and gross efficiency were obtained during the high-intensity constant workload exercise test. No differences were observed in [Formula: see text] O(2P), heart rate, and Q(T) kinetics in the subsequent high-intensity exercise following BFR training. However, exercise tolerance and gross efficiency were significantly greater after BFR (220 ± 45 vs 136 ± 30 seconds; P < .05, and 32.8 ± 6.3 vs 27.1 ± 5.4%; P < .05, respectively), which also resulted in lower oxygen cost (1382 ± 227 vs 1695 ± 305 mL min(–1)). We concluded that moderate-intensity BFR training implemented prior to a high-intensity protocol did not accelerate subsequent [Formula: see text] O(2P) and Q(T) kinetics, but it has the potential to improve both exercise tolerance and work efficiency at high workloads.