The effect of six weeks of resistance training and blood flow restriction with active and passive rest on the level of growth hormone and physical fitness of soldiers

The armed forces, depending on their duties and missions, need some level of physical fitness.The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of six weeks of resistance training and blood flow restriction with active and passive rest on the levels of growth hormone and physical fitness of soldiers.

Totally, 24 healthy young people were divided into three groups of eight subjects: traditional resistance training (RT), resistance training, and blood flow restriction with passive (BFR+PR) and active rest (BFR+AR). The training programs were performed for six weeks, three sessions per week with an intensity of 70-80% 1RM for RT and 20-30% 1RM for two other groups. Before and after six weeks, physiological and anthropometric characteristics, anaerobic and explosive power, and growth hormone levels (ELISA) were measured.

The results showed that six weeks of training had a significant effect on growth hormone level (p=0.02), so that the level for the BFR+AR group is more than it for the RT group. However, there was no significant difference between the BFR+PR and the other two groups. Also, six weeks of training significantly increased the amount of Sargent jump and peak power in all three groups, that is the minimum power in BFR+PR group and average power in BFR+AR and BFR+PR groups. However, these increases in anaerobic power, minimum power, average power, and Sargent jump were not significant among groups.

According to the principle of training efficiency and similar adaptations to RT and BFR+PR, the combining resistance training with BFR+AR can be a good alternative to these exercises.