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Int J Sports Med 2008; 29(8): 664-667
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-989405
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Strength Training and Vascular Occlusion

G. Laurentino1 , C. Ugrinowitsch2 , A. Y. Aihara3 , A. R. Fernandes3 , A. C. Parcell4 , M. Ricard5 , V. Tricoli2
  • 1Department of Physical Education, Paulista University, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • 2Department of Sport, University of Sao Paulo, School of Physical Education and Sport, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • 3Department of Image Diagnostic, America's Diagnostics S/A, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • 4Department of Exercise Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States
  • 5Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision October 30, 2007

Publication Date:
22 January 2008 (online)

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Abstract

The purpose of our study was to determine if vascular occlusion produced an additive effect on muscle hypertrophy and strength performance with high strength training loads. Sixteen physically active men were divided into two groups: high-intensity (HI = 6 RM) and moderate-intensity training (MI = 12 RM). An occlusion cuff was attached to the proximal end of the right thigh, so that blood flow was reduced during the exercise. The left leg served as a control, thus was trained without vascular occlusion. Knee extension 1 RM and quadriceps cross-sectional area (MRI) were evaluated pre- and post-8 weeks of training. We only found a main time effect for both strength gains and quadriceps hypertrophy (p < 0.001). Therefore, we conclude that vascular occlusion in combination with high-intensity strength training does not augment muscle strength or hypertrophy when compared to high-intensity strength training alone

Key words

hypertrophy - cross‐sectional area - leg extension

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Prof. Ph.D. Valmor Tricoli

University of Sao Paulo School of Physical Education and Sport
Department of Sport

A. Prof. Mello Moraes 65

05508 – 900 Sao Paulo

Brazil

Phone: + 55 11 30 91 21 43

Fax: + 55 11 38 13 50 91

Email: vtricoli@usp.br