Effects of Elastic Bands, Kaatsu Cuffs, and Clinical Cuffs on the Brachial Blood Flow during Elbow Flexion Exercise.

The elastic band (EB) may be an alternative for restricting the blood flow compared to the Kaatsu and clinical cuffs (KA and CC, respectively). However, the impact of the EB, the KA, and the CC on the blood flow during exercise remains uncertain. This study examined the blood flow (BF), the diameter of the brachial artery (DA), and blood flow velocity (BFV) during elbow flexion exercises using the KA, the CC, and the EB. Twenty-six resistance-trained men (age: 30.7 ± 8.7 years, body mass: 80.7 ± 15.5 kg, body height: 175.7 ± 6.5 cm) completed four sets of 15 repetitions of unilateral elbow flexion exercise at 20% 1RM. All protocols were set to the same perceived tightness (PT) based on Kaatsu optimal pressure (KOP). The BF, BFV and the DA were assessed at baseline, at KOP, and during the exercise sets. The BF and BFV were significantly reduced from baseline to KOP when the KA (67%, ES: 1.4, p = 0.0002; 24%, ES: 1.9, p < 0.0001) and the CC (70%, ES: 1.7, p < 0.0001; 31%, ES: 1.6, p < 0.0001) were applied, yet not the EB (49%, ES: 1.1, p = 0.103; 17%, ES: 0.7, p = 0.123). The BF and BFV increased from KOP to the fourth exercise set in all protocols with the KA (409%, ES: 2.4, p < 0.0001; 37.5 %, ES: 1.7, p = 0.007), the CC (377%, ES: 2.0, p < 0.0001; 55%, ES: 1.3, p < 0.0001) and the EB (411%, ES: 2.9, p < 0.0001; 43%, ES: 1.3, p = 0.002), respectively, with no significant difference between them (p > 0.05). The DA remained unchanged after all protocols (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the EB showed similar blood flow behavior compared to pressure-controlled cuffs.