Bone Adaptations to Blood Flow Restriction Training

Blood flow restriction training (BFR) has demonstrated effects on various physiological parameters, with similar regulatory mechanisms to bone. PURPOSE: Bone and BFR literature is currently sparse, therefore the purpose of this investigation was to perform a pilot study of bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) responses to BFR. METHODS: The BFR group [n = 23; age = 20.72 ± 1.93; BMI = 25.81 ± 4.40 kg/m2] and control (CON) group [n = 19; age = 19.76 ± 1.31; BMI = 23.62 ± 3.18 kg/m2] underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans at initial and post interventions for forearm, anterior-posterior and lateral spines, and whole body. BFR training (back squat, bench press, deadlift, and bench row) consisted of three sessions per week for seven weeks (4 sets of 30, 15, 15, and 15 reps) at 50% occlusion pressure while CON participants maintained regular daily activities. RESULTS: No significant differences were seen in the lateral spine, forearm and whole-body BMC and BMD from initial to post-intervention assessments. However, the B2RT group showed a decrease in percent difference in the anterior-posterior spine BMC compared to CON (-0.832% ± 0.49g vs. 1.06% ± 0.57g). CONCLUSION: Results suggest that BFR had little effect on bone BMD and BMC in participants. The brief duration of the study may have limited the scope of these findings, further research with longer duration and increased homogeneity is needed to clarify the potential of BFR training on bone health.