Hypoalgesic effects of a blood flow restriction technique at moderate intensity with or without motor imagery: a single-blind randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Purpose

The main objective was to assess the hypoalgesic effect of adding blood flow restriction (BFR) training with or without motor imagery (MI) to moderate-intensity exercise. The secondary objective was to analyse the correlations of the pain pressure thresholds (PPTs) regarding perceived pain intensity, perceived fatigue, and cuff pressure discomfort.

Methods

A sample of 42 asymptomatic participants were randomly assigned to 3 groups: control group (CG), BFR group, and BFR with MI group. All participants performed a squat exercise at an intensity of 60% of 1RM. For the BFR groups, blood occlusion occurred at 80% of maximal arterial occlusive pressure. Local, bilateral, and distal PPT were assessed pre-intervention, post-intervention and 48 h post-intervention. The perceived fatigue was assessed post-intervention, and pain intensity was assessed only 48 h post-intervention.

Results

There were intragroup differences in the CG and BFR + MI group in the local PPT between the pre-intervention and post-intervention measurements (p = 0.039, d= −0.32 and p = 0.009, d= −0.46, respectively) and only in the CG in the bilateral PPT (p = 0.002, d= −0.41). The CG and BFR group showed significant differences at 48 h post-intervention, with a decrease in local PPT (p = 0.009, d = 0.51 and p = 0.049, d = 0.43, respectively) and bilateral PPT (p = 0.004, d = 0.53 and p = 0.021, d = 0.46, respectively). There was a negative moderate correlation between local PPT at the post-intervention time and perceived discomfort of the occlusion device only in the BFR group (r=-0.54, p = 0.045).

Conclusion

Moderate-intensity resistance training with high occlusion did not generate hypoalgesia but did appear to generate a hyperalgesic response within 48 h after the intervention.

Keywords:

• Blood flow restriction
• Motor imagery
• Pain pressure thresholds

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank CSEU La Salle for their services in editing this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).