Department of Movement Neuroscience, Faculty of Sports Science, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.
Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
Exp Physiol. 2024 Nov;109(11):1869-1881. doi: 10.1113/EP091911. Epub 2024 Sep 4.
Blood-flow-restriction exercise (BFR) is an emerging method to stimulate hypertrophy and strength without the need for high training loads. However, the impact of BFR concerning somatosensory processing remains elusive. Here, we aimed to investigate the acute effects of BFR on somatosensory processing in healthy adults using somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs). Twelve healthy adults (23.0 ± 3.2 years of age) participated in a randomized crossover experiment, consisting of three experimental conditions: application of blood-flow restriction without resistance exercise (BFR), resistance exercise for multiple sets with blood-flow restriction (BFR) and traditional resistance exercise (unilateral biceps curls) for multiple sets without BFR (EX). SEP measurements were recorded bilaterally before, during and after each condition. SEP amplitudes were largely unaffected during various occlusive conditions. Nonetheless, our findings demonstrate a significant decrease in N9 latencies for condition EX compared with BFR, specifically in the exercised limb (mean difference = -0.26 ms, SE = 0.06 ms, P = 0.002, d = -0.335). This study provides evidence on the lack of impact of BFR within the somatosensory domain, according to current guidelines. As an alternative method to traditional high-load resistance exercise, BFR might offer a considerable upside for rehabilitative settings by reducing strain on the musculoskeletal system.
血流限制训练（BFR）是一种新兴的方法，可以在不需要高训练负荷的情况下刺激肌肉肥大和力量。然而，BFR 对体感处理的影响仍不清楚。在这里，我们旨在使用体感诱发电位（SEP）研究血流限制对健康成年人体感处理的急性影响。12 名健康成年人（23.0±3.2 岁）参加了一项随机交叉实验，包括三种实验条件：不进行抗阻运动的血流限制（BFR）、多组血流限制的抗阻运动（BFR）和多组无血流限制的传统抗阻运动（单侧二头肌卷曲）（EX）。在每个条件之前、期间和之后都进行双侧 SEP 测量。在各种闭塞条件下，SEP 幅度基本不受影响。尽管如此，我们的研究结果表明，与 BFR 相比，EX 条件下 N9 潜伏期明显缩短，特别是在运动肢体（平均差异=-0.26ms，SE=0.06ms，P=0.002，d=-0.335）。根据当前指南，这项研究提供了血流限制在体感域内没有影响的证据。作为传统高负荷抗阻运动的替代方法，BFR 通过减少对肌肉骨骼系统的压力，可能为康复环境带来相当大的好处。
