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Combining blood flow restriction training with heat to maximize hypertrophy and strength in rugby players
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Combining blood flow restriction training with heat to maximize hypertrophy and strength in rugby players

F. Brocherie, L. Morelet, O. Girard and B.R. Scott
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, Vol.52(7S), pp.845-845
2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000687952.09354.4b
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Abstract

PURPOSE: We assessed whether blood flow restriction (BFR) training with the addition of heat stress (BFRH) improves hypertrophy, muscle strength and sport-specific physical performance in rugby union players, compared to BFR training alone. METHODS: Nineteen elite U23 rugby union male players were randomly assigned to BFRH (n = 7), BFR (n = 6) or traditional high-load resistance training (CON, n = 6) groups. BFRH and BFR groups trained twice weekly for 3 weeks using BFR exercise (half squat, 4 sets of 30-15-15-15 repetitions at 30% 1 maximum repetition (1RM) with 30 s of passive recovery; 50% of resting arterial occlusion pressure) in hot (37°C) and cool (22°C) conditions, respectively. Before and after the intervention, thigh circumference, half squat 1RM, squat jump force-velocity profile, and performance in vertical jump, sprint and repeated-sprint ability (RSA) tasks were measured. Muscle damage marker (creatine kinase) was measured before and after (0.1-24 h) the first and last training session. RESULTS: Thigh circumference significantly increased (P<0.001) from pre- to post-training in both BFRH (+6%, P<0.001) and BFR (+4%, P<0.05). Significant time × group interaction revealed improvement in half squat 1RM (+12% and +19%, P<0.01) and maximal force component (+102% and +116%, P<0.001) of the force-velocity profile for BFRH and BFR. Vertical jump performance did not change. 10-m sprint (-5% and -3%, P<0.001) and RSA best and total times (both -2%, both P≤0.001) improved similarly in BFRH and BFR. Although not significant, muscle damage was lowered after the last session in BFRH only. No pre- to post-training changes occurred in CON. CONCLUSIONS: Combining BFR training with heat stress can potentially induce hypertrophy and improve rugby union-specific physical performance while also inducing lower muscle damage than BFR training alone. Such gains could be of benefit during competitive period or rehabilitative setting.

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