Blood Flow Restricted Electrical Stimulations to Prevent or Attenuate Symptoms of Muscle Damage

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to determine if performing electrical stimulations (E-STIM) under blood flow restriction (BFR) would result in a greater protective effect against symptoms of muscle damage. 18 individuals (9 females) completed a damaging bout of exercise followed by a low frequency E-STIM treatment protocol on both arms, one of which was completed under BFR. The treatment protocol was then repeated 24-hours post-exercise. There were main effects of time for muscle thickness (pre: 3.5 cm; 48 h post: 3.8 cm; BF₁₀ = 88.476), discomfort (pre: 0.0 au; 48 h post: 4.2 au; BF₁₀ = 241.996), and isometric strength (pre: 278 N; 48 h post: 232 N; BF₁₀ = 10,289.894) which all changed as a result of the damaging exercise protocol, but there were no differences between conditions [all Bayes Factors (BF₁₀) < 0.28]. The effectiveness of low frequency E-STIM for preventing the onset of exercise-induced muscle damage would not appear to be enhanced if performed under BFR.

KEYWORDS:

• DOMS
• E-STIM
• occlusion
• recovery
• soreness
• swelling

Disclosure statement

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

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Availability of data

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.