Effects of Air Pressure and Holding Time on Muscle Blood Flow Promotion in Pneumatic Squeeze Hold

Introduction This study aimed to investigate the effects of air pressure and holding time on the promotion of muscle blood flow using a squeeze-hold technique with a pneumatic cuff in healthy college students. Methods Subjects (n = 12) were placed in the prone position, and a pneumatic cuff was secured around the left lower leg. The cuff was inflated to predetermined pressures (50, 100, and 200 mmHg) to squeeze the lower leg muscles. After the pressure was held for predetermined time periods (20 seconds, one minute, three minutes, five minutes, and seven minutes), the cuff was deflated to release the associated compression in the lower leg muscles. During the intervention and after release, the hemodynamics of the left gastrocnemius muscle were measured using a muscle infrared spectrometer. Results At 50 mmHg, the promotion of muscle blood flow was absent at all holding times. At 100 mmHg, the effect of enhanced muscle blood flow was observed as follows: for up to one minute after release with holding times of 10 seconds and 1 minute, up to two minutes after release with a holding time of three minutes, and up to eight minutes after holding times of five and seven minutes. At 200 mmHg, a muscle blood flow-promoting effect was observed for up to one minute after release with a holding time of 10 seconds, up to two minutes after release with a holding time of one minute, and up to 10 minutes after release with holding times of three, five, and seven minutes. Conclusion The analysis indicated that a cuff pressure of at least 100 mmHg was necessary to achieve a significant blood flow-promoting effect. Furthermore, longer holding times at higher pressures produced more sustained increases in blood flow. These findings suggest that the squeeze-hold technique, with appropriate pressure and duration, can effectively increase muscle blood flow.