Post‐exercise neural plasticity is augmented by adding blood flow restriction during low work rate arm cycling
Abstract Blood flow restriction (BFR) combined with low work rate exercise can enhance muscular and cardiovascular fitness. However, whether neural mechanisms mediate these enhancements remains unknown. This study examined changes in corticospinal excitability and motor cortical inhibition following...
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Wiley
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Experimental Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1113/EP092113 |
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| author | Mikaela L. Frechette Summer B. Cook Brendan R. Scott Jane Tan Ann‐Maree Vallence |
| author_facet | Mikaela L. Frechette Summer B. Cook Brendan R. Scott Jane Tan Ann‐Maree Vallence |
| author_sort | Mikaela L. Frechette |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Blood flow restriction (BFR) combined with low work rate exercise can enhance muscular and cardiovascular fitness. However, whether neural mechanisms mediate these enhancements remains unknown. This study examined changes in corticospinal excitability and motor cortical inhibition following arm cycle ergometry with and without BFR. Twelve healthy males (24 ± 4 years) completed four, randomized 15‐min arm cycling conditions: high work rate (HW: 60% maximal power output), low work rate (LW: 30% maximal power output), low work rate with BFR (LW‐BFR) and BFR without exercise (BFR‐only). For BFR conditions, cuffs were applied around the upper arm and inflated to 70% of arterial occlusion pressure continuously during exercise. Single‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation was delivered to left primary motor cortex (M1) to elicit motor‐evoked potentials (MEP) in the right biceps brachii during a low‐level isometric contraction. MEP amplitude and cortical silent period (cSP) duration were measured before and 1, 10 and 15 min post‐exercise. MEP amplitude increased significantly from baseline to Post‐10 and Post‐15 for both the HW (both z < −7.07, both P < 0.001) and LW‐BFR conditions (both z < −5.56, both P < 0.001). For the LW condition without BFR, MEP amplitude increased significantly from baseline to Post‐10 (z = −3.53, P = 0.003) but not Post‐15 (z = −1.85, P = 0.388). The current findings show that HW arm cycling and LW‐BFR led to longer‐lasting increases in corticospinal excitability than LW arm cycling alone. Future research should examine whether the increased corticospinal excitability is associated with the improvements in muscle strength observed with BFR exercise. A mechanistic understanding of BFR exercise improvement could guide BFR interventions in clinical populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5387e5d2d09343e48d9f8a0e4db8952c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0958-0670 1469-445X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Experimental Physiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-5387e5d2d09343e48d9f8a0e4db8952c2025-08-20T01:58:11ZengWileyExperimental Physiology0958-06701469-445X2025-06-01110687788710.1113/EP092113Post‐exercise neural plasticity is augmented by adding blood flow restriction during low work rate arm cyclingMikaela L. Frechette0Summer B. Cook1Brendan R. Scott2Jane Tan3Ann‐Maree Vallence4Department of Kinesiology University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire USADepartment of Kinesiology University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire USAPHysical Activity, Sport and Exercise (PHASE) Research Group School of Allied Health (Exercise Science), Murdoch University Perth AustraliaCentre for Healthy Ageing, Health Futures Institute Murdoch University Perth AustraliaCentre for Healthy Ageing, Health Futures Institute Murdoch University Perth AustraliaAbstract Blood flow restriction (BFR) combined with low work rate exercise can enhance muscular and cardiovascular fitness. However, whether neural mechanisms mediate these enhancements remains unknown. This study examined changes in corticospinal excitability and motor cortical inhibition following arm cycle ergometry with and without BFR. Twelve healthy males (24 ± 4 years) completed four, randomized 15‐min arm cycling conditions: high work rate (HW: 60% maximal power output), low work rate (LW: 30% maximal power output), low work rate with BFR (LW‐BFR) and BFR without exercise (BFR‐only). For BFR conditions, cuffs were applied around the upper arm and inflated to 70% of arterial occlusion pressure continuously during exercise. Single‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation was delivered to left primary motor cortex (M1) to elicit motor‐evoked potentials (MEP) in the right biceps brachii during a low‐level isometric contraction. MEP amplitude and cortical silent period (cSP) duration were measured before and 1, 10 and 15 min post‐exercise. MEP amplitude increased significantly from baseline to Post‐10 and Post‐15 for both the HW (both z < −7.07, both P < 0.001) and LW‐BFR conditions (both z < −5.56, both P < 0.001). For the LW condition without BFR, MEP amplitude increased significantly from baseline to Post‐10 (z = −3.53, P = 0.003) but not Post‐15 (z = −1.85, P = 0.388). The current findings show that HW arm cycling and LW‐BFR led to longer‐lasting increases in corticospinal excitability than LW arm cycling alone. Future research should examine whether the increased corticospinal excitability is associated with the improvements in muscle strength observed with BFR exercise. A mechanistic understanding of BFR exercise improvement could guide BFR interventions in clinical populations.https://doi.org/10.1113/EP092113blood flow restrictionexercise interventionhypoxiainhibitionmotor cortex excitabilityneural plasticity |
| spellingShingle | Mikaela L. Frechette Summer B. Cook Brendan R. Scott Jane Tan Ann‐Maree Vallence Post‐exercise neural plasticity is augmented by adding blood flow restriction during low work rate arm cycling Experimental Physiology blood flow restriction exercise intervention hypoxia inhibition motor cortex excitability neural plasticity |
| title | Post‐exercise neural plasticity is augmented by adding blood flow restriction during low work rate arm cycling |
| title_full | Post‐exercise neural plasticity is augmented by adding blood flow restriction during low work rate arm cycling |
| title_fullStr | Post‐exercise neural plasticity is augmented by adding blood flow restriction during low work rate arm cycling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Post‐exercise neural plasticity is augmented by adding blood flow restriction during low work rate arm cycling |
| title_short | Post‐exercise neural plasticity is augmented by adding blood flow restriction during low work rate arm cycling |
| title_sort | post exercise neural plasticity is augmented by adding blood flow restriction during low work rate arm cycling |
| topic | blood flow restriction exercise intervention hypoxia inhibition motor cortex excitability neural plasticity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1113/EP092113 |
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