Blood Flow Restriction Walking Exposures Effect On Heart Rate, Ratings Of Perceived Exertion, And Pain

Performing low-intensity aerobic exercise with blood flow restriction (BFR) has been shown to elicit positive improvements after training, such as increased maximal oxygen uptake. Despite low-intensity exercise, participants often perceive BFR exercise to be higher physical exertion and pain levels compared to non-BFR exercise. These common perceptions might negate the use of BFR exercise for some participants. PURPOSE: The primary aim was to investigate the potential effect that multiple BFR exercise exposures might have on a participant’s exercising heart rate reserve (HRR), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and pain during a 15-minute walk. METHODS: 15 healthy, trained participants (8 Female, 6 Male, age 22 ± 1 years, height 1.70 ± 0.07 meters, weight 66.0 ± 9.6 kilograms) completed three sessions of BFR walking on three separate days. Prior to the first session, the treadmill speed that elicited 3/10 RPE while BFR was not applied was determined and that speed was used during all BFR walking sessions. During each BFR walking session, participants walked on a treadmill for 15 minutes at the predetermined speed while 60% limb occlusion pressure was applied bilaterally to the proximal thighs. Exercising HRR (heart monitor chest strap), RPE (0-10) and perceived pain (0-10) was recorded during the last 15 seconds of each minute during the BFR walking sessions. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was performed to determine if BFR walking session (1-3) and/or exercise time (1-15 minutes) affected exercising HRR, RPE, or pain. Statistical significance was established at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Exercising HRR was higher during session 1 (32 ± 13 %HRR) compared to session 3 (26 ± 10 %HRR). RPE was higher during session 1 compared to session 3 during minutes 3-5 (3.5 ± 0.7 vs 2.9 ± 0.6) and 7-15 (4.3 ± 1.3 vs 3.5 ± 1.1). RPE was higher during session 1 compared to session 2 during minutes 8-15 (4.4 ± 1.4 vs 3.6 ± 0.8). No significant difference was observed for pain across BFR walking sessions (p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: These findings support that after a single exposure to BFR walking, exercising RPE declines and after a second exposure to BFR walking, RPE declines for a longer period of the exercise bout while HRR also declines. Participants might tolerate BFR walking exercise better after completing two BFR walking sessions.