Acute effect of blood flow restriction on muscle response measured with tensiomyography

The aim was to compare the acute effect of a session with and without blood flow restriction on bicep brachii muscle response by Tensiomyography and perception of effort. Fourteen male and female university students participated (age 22.48± 1.41 years). The training consisted of 4 sets (30, 15, 15 and 15 repetitions) of the Biceps Curl exercise at 30% of 1RM, with a 30-s rest between sets. The speed of execution was 2s:2s, the load being determined with a pre-training measurement of 1RM and remaining unchanged throughout the period. Exercise was performed without and with without blood flow restriction with occlusive pressure set at 140% of the subject's systolic pressure measured in mm Hg. Compression was maintained throughout the session. Contraction time (Tc), muscle activation time (Td), contraction maintenance time (Ts), relaxation time (Tr) and muscle belly deformation (Dm) were assessed by Tensiomyography before and immediately after the session. No significant differences were found between the two interventions in any of the variables (Td, Tc, Ts, Tr and Dm) except Td p < 0.01. The perception of effort showed statistically significant differences p < .001, being higher in the session with blood flow restriction. It is concluded that a session with and without blood flow restriction of Biceps Curl did not generate significant variations in muscle response, with the exception of Td which was lower with the intervention without blood flow restriction, being the perception of effort higher with blood flow restriction.