The Effect of Different Pressures of Blood Flow Restriction with Isometric Exercise on EMG Changes

The aim of the present study was to investigate the acute effect of isometric exercises with different pressures of blood flow restriction on EMG changes. 10 male healthy university students (mean age: 25.8±0.33 yr, height: 176.6±1.67 cm, weight: 75.2±2.1 kg) who had a history of resistance exercises voluntarily participated in this study. Firstly, subject's ankle blood pressure was determined by color Doppler ultrasound and a sonography specialist. Then, in the exercise sessions with blood flow restriction, similar amount of pressure was applied to the highest point of the thigh of subject's dominant legs by the cuff to occlude blood flow. The study protocol consisted of six 10-sec. isometric contractions; participants had 60 seconds of rest between every two sets. The protocol was repeated in every 4 sessions conducted with 0, 70, 100 and 130% of systolic pressure. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to assess normality of the data and one-way ANOVA with repeated measures were used to detect significant changes in iEMG among the 4 sessions. Statistical analysis of data showed no significant differences between sessions of 100 and 130 of systolic pressure in iEMG (P>0.05), But a significant difference was observed among other sessions in iEMG (P