Impact of blood flow restriction cuff design on upper body exercise: A randomized crossover trial in resistance‐trained adults

Abstract Differences in cuff blood flow restriction (BFR) bladder design (single‐chambered [SC‐BFR] and multi‐chambered [MC‐BFR] systems) may influence exercise performance, perceptual responses, and cardiovascular outcomes. In a randomized cross‐over design, twenty‐six healthy physically active ind...

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Main Authors: Nicholas Rolnick, Victor S. deQueiros, Brent Fedorko, Samantha Watson, Campbell Ruffhead, Sean Zupnik, Lucas Kuriawa, Mark Weedon, Tim Werner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:Physiological Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70303
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author Nicholas Rolnick
Victor S. deQueiros
Brent Fedorko
Samantha Watson
Campbell Ruffhead
Sean Zupnik
Lucas Kuriawa
Mark Weedon
Tim Werner
author_facet Nicholas Rolnick
Victor S. deQueiros
Brent Fedorko
Samantha Watson
Campbell Ruffhead
Sean Zupnik
Lucas Kuriawa
Mark Weedon
Tim Werner
author_sort Nicholas Rolnick
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Differences in cuff blood flow restriction (BFR) bladder design (single‐chambered [SC‐BFR] and multi‐chambered [MC‐BFR] systems) may influence exercise performance, perceptual responses, and cardiovascular outcomes. In a randomized cross‐over design, twenty‐six healthy physically active individuals (22.6 ± 5.5 years old, 10 females; 25 reported engaging in resistance‐exercise consistently) performed four sets of bilateral biceps curls to volitional failure using 20% of the 1‐repetition maximum under three conditions: SC‐BFR, MC‐BFR, and a non‐BFR control, post‐exercise perceptual responses, and cardiovascular measures pre‐ and post‐exercise. SC‐BFR significantly reduced total repetitions compared to MC‐BFR and N‐BFR (p < 0.001). MC‐BFR and N‐BFR conditions demonstrated comparable performance in later sets. RPD was significantly higher in SC‐BFR compared to MC‐BFR and N‐BFR (p < 0.001), while MC‐BFR elicited lower RPE than SC‐BFR (p = 0.025). Both SC‐BFR and N‐BFR conditions significantly reduced post‐exercise diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure, whereas MC‐BFR did not. No significant differences in PWV were observed across conditions. SC‐BFR induces greater repetition reduction and perceptual discomfort than MC‐BFR, while MC‐BFR demonstrates similar performances and comfort to N‐BFR in later sets. Findings suggest cuff design plays a role in acute BFR responses.
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spelling doaj-art-49529b70c06d44c99d046901c2c2f51a2025-08-20T02:15:54ZengWileyPhysiological Reports2051-817X2025-04-01137n/an/a10.14814/phy2.70303Impact of blood flow restriction cuff design on upper body exercise: A randomized crossover trial in resistance‐trained adultsNicholas Rolnick0Victor S. deQueiros1Brent Fedorko2Samantha Watson3Campbell Ruffhead4Sean Zupnik5Lucas Kuriawa6Mark Weedon7Tim Werner8Department of Exercise Science and Recreation CUNY Lehman College New York New York USADepartment of Physical Education State University of Paraíba (UEPB) Campina Grande Paraíba BrazilDepartment of Exercise Science Salisbury University Salisbury Maryland USADepartment of Exercise Science Salisbury University Salisbury Maryland USADepartment of Exercise Science Salisbury University Salisbury Maryland USADepartment of Exercise Science Salisbury University Salisbury Maryland USADepartment of Exercise Science Salisbury University Salisbury Maryland USADepartment of Exercise Science Salisbury University Salisbury Maryland USADepartment of Exercise Science Salisbury University Salisbury Maryland USAAbstract Differences in cuff blood flow restriction (BFR) bladder design (single‐chambered [SC‐BFR] and multi‐chambered [MC‐BFR] systems) may influence exercise performance, perceptual responses, and cardiovascular outcomes. In a randomized cross‐over design, twenty‐six healthy physically active individuals (22.6 ± 5.5 years old, 10 females; 25 reported engaging in resistance‐exercise consistently) performed four sets of bilateral biceps curls to volitional failure using 20% of the 1‐repetition maximum under three conditions: SC‐BFR, MC‐BFR, and a non‐BFR control, post‐exercise perceptual responses, and cardiovascular measures pre‐ and post‐exercise. SC‐BFR significantly reduced total repetitions compared to MC‐BFR and N‐BFR (p < 0.001). MC‐BFR and N‐BFR conditions demonstrated comparable performance in later sets. RPD was significantly higher in SC‐BFR compared to MC‐BFR and N‐BFR (p < 0.001), while MC‐BFR elicited lower RPE than SC‐BFR (p = 0.025). Both SC‐BFR and N‐BFR conditions significantly reduced post‐exercise diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure, whereas MC‐BFR did not. No significant differences in PWV were observed across conditions. SC‐BFR induces greater repetition reduction and perceptual discomfort than MC‐BFR, while MC‐BFR demonstrates similar performances and comfort to N‐BFR in later sets. Findings suggest cuff design plays a role in acute BFR responses.https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70303arterial stiffnessB strongDelfiexercise performanceperceptual responsesresistance training
spellingShingle Nicholas Rolnick
Victor S. deQueiros
Brent Fedorko
Samantha Watson
Campbell Ruffhead
Sean Zupnik
Lucas Kuriawa
Mark Weedon
Tim Werner
Impact of blood flow restriction cuff design on upper body exercise: A randomized crossover trial in resistance‐trained adults
Physiological Reports
arterial stiffness
B strong
Delfi
exercise performance
perceptual responses
resistance training
title Impact of blood flow restriction cuff design on upper body exercise: A randomized crossover trial in resistance‐trained adults
title_full Impact of blood flow restriction cuff design on upper body exercise: A randomized crossover trial in resistance‐trained adults
title_fullStr Impact of blood flow restriction cuff design on upper body exercise: A randomized crossover trial in resistance‐trained adults
title_full_unstemmed Impact of blood flow restriction cuff design on upper body exercise: A randomized crossover trial in resistance‐trained adults
title_short Impact of blood flow restriction cuff design on upper body exercise: A randomized crossover trial in resistance‐trained adults
title_sort impact of blood flow restriction cuff design on upper body exercise a randomized crossover trial in resistance trained adults
topic arterial stiffness
B strong
Delfi
exercise performance
perceptual responses
resistance training
url https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70303
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