Nancekievill Dawson, Seaman Ken, Bouchard Danielle R, Thomson Amy M, Sénéchal Martin
Cardiometabolic, Exercise, and Lifestyle Laboratory, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada.
Faculty of Kinesiology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada.
PLoS One. 2025 Jan 28;20(1):e0301164. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301164. eCollection 2025.
Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) has been previously studied as an alternative form of resistance training to gain lean mass and improve performance outcomes. However, in all exercise studies of BFRT, the proportion of female participants represents only 17-29% of all research participants. This highlights a strong underrepresentation of females and the need for more knowledge on the impact of BFRT and sex differences. The primary objective was to compare the impact of 6-week BFRT on lean mass, strength, and performance outcomes between males and females. A total of 38 adults [age, 25.3 ± 3.1 years; female, n = 19 (50%)] performed whole-body resistance training program with blood flow restriction three times per week. Exercises were performed at 30% of 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) and blood flow restriction cuffs were set to 60% of each individual's limb occlusion pressure. Body composition was assessed via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and strength was measured using 1-RM. A significant increase in lean mass was observed in males (p = 0.009) and females (p = 0.023) with no difference in the change between groups (p = 0.279). Both males and females increased 1-RM for upper- and lower-body exercises, with significant interaction effects (time x sex) for chest press (p = 0.003), seated row (p = 0.038), knee flexion (p = 0.043), and knee extension (p = 0.035), suggesting males increased 1-RM more for these exercises. Furthermore, peak power was improved in males (p < 0.001) and females (p = 0.002) during a vertical squat jump, but a significant interaction (time x sex) effect was observed (p = 0.039), suggesting males increased to a greater extent. Males and females significantly increased lean body mass, to a similar degree, following six weeks of resistance training in combination with blood flow restriction. Likewise, both males and females improved muscle strength following 6-week BFRT, however males may improve strength to a greater extent than females.
血流限制训练（BFRT）此前已作为一种抗阻训练的替代形式进行研究，以增加瘦体重并改善运动表现。然而，在所有关于BFRT的运动研究中，女性参与者的比例仅占所有研究参与者的17%-29%。这凸显了女性参与者的严重代表性不足，以及需要更多关于BFRT影响和性别差异的知识。主要目的是比较为期6周的BFRT对男性和女性瘦体重、力量及运动表现的影响。共有38名成年人[年龄，25.3±3.1岁；女性，n = 19（50%）]进行了每周三次的全身血流限制抗阻训练计划。运动强度为1次重复最大值（1-RM）的30%，血流限制袖带设置为每个个体肢体闭塞压力的60%。通过双能X线吸收法评估身体成分，使用1-RM测量力量。男性（p = 0.009）和女性（p = 0.023）的瘦体重均显著增加，组间变化无差异（p = 0.279）。男性和女性上、下身运动的1-RM均增加，在卧推（p = 0.003）、坐姿划船（p = 0.038）、屈膝（p = 0.043）和伸膝（p = 0.035）方面存在显著的交互作用（时间×性别），表明男性在这些运动中1-RM增加得更多。此外，男性（p < 0.001）和女性（p = 0.002）在垂直纵跳时的峰值功率均有所提高，但观察到显著的交互作用（时间×性别）效应（p = 0.039），表明男性增加的幅度更大。在进行六周的抗阻训练并结合血流限制后，男性和女性的瘦体重均显著增加，且程度相似。同样，在为期6周的BFRT后，男性和女性的肌肉力量均有所改善，然而男性力量改善的程度可能比女性更大。
