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Electromyographic Response to Blood Flow Restriction Exercise in Healthy Adults
Sponsor: Universidad de Extremadura
Summary
This pilot randomized contralateral within-participant study evaluated the immediate neuromuscular response to low-load knee extension exercise performed with and without blood flow restriction in healthy young adults. Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two limb-allocation groups: blood flow restriction applied to the dominant limb or blood flow restriction applied to the non-dominant limb. In each participant, the contralateral limb completed the same exercise protocol without blood flow restriction. Therefore, all participants were assessed under both experimental conditions. Both limb-specific conditions were completed during the same experimental session. The order of the blood flow restriction and non-blood flow restriction conditions was randomized for each participant, with a 10-minute rest period between conditions. Blood flow restriction was applied using a pneumatic cuff positioned on the proximal thigh. Cuff pressure was individualized and set at 80% of the arterial occlusion pressure measured for the corresponding limb. Participants completed the same standardized low-load knee extension protocol under both conditions. Surface electromyography was used to record vastus lateralis activity from each assessed limb during the exercise protocol. Muscle activity was primarily evaluated using root mean square amplitude normalized to the pre-exercise maximal voluntary isometric contraction recorded from the corresponding limb. Root mean square amplitude during maximal voluntary isometric contraction trials was also recorded before and immediately after each condition. The study aimed to compare the electromyographic response between the blood flow restriction and non-blood flow restriction conditions and to determine whether this response differed according to whether blood flow restriction was applied to the dominant or non-dominant limb.
Official title: Electromyographic Analysis of Immediate Neuromuscular Response After Low-Load Knee Extension Exercise With and Without Blood Flow Restriction in Healthy Adults
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 65 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
24
Start Date
2026-03-03
Completion Date
2026-04-15
Last Updated
2026-07-27
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Interventions
Bilateral low-load knee extension exercise protocol
Each participant completed the low-load knee extension exercise protocol separately with both lower limbs. Under each condition, the protocol comprised 75 repetitions distributed across four sets of 30, 15, 15, and 15 repetitions, with 30 seconds of rest between sets. One limb performed the protocol with blood flow restriction and the contralateral limb performed it without blood flow restriction. Condition order was randomized, and a 10-minute rest period was provided between the two limb-specific conditions. Vastus lateralis surface electromyography was recorded continuously during each protocol.
Pneumatic blood flow restriction cuff
A pneumatic cuff was placed on the proximal thigh of the limb randomized to the blood flow restriction condition and inflated to 80% of the individualized arterial occlusion pressure during the low-load knee extension protocol. The cuff was not applied to the contralateral limb, which completed the same protocol under the non-blood flow restriction condition. The cuff was fully deflated and removed after completion of the blood flow restriction condition.
Locations (1)
University of Extremadura
Badajoz, Badajoz, Spain