The Influences of Blood Flow Restriction on Leg Press Perceptual Responses and Performance, and Systemic Arterial Stiffness

This study aims to investigate the use of Delfi vs. Fitcuffs blood flow restriction (BFR) cuff exercise on indices of arterial stiffness, muscle morphology, performance, and participant perception. Thirty adults aged 18-40 years old will undergo three treatment sessions (control (no BFR), Delfi BFR, and Fitcuffs BFR) in a randomized order separated by one week. A familiarization session will also occur one week before starting the treatment period. Each subject will undergo a series of tests including anthropometry, applanation tonometry, ultrasonography of the vastus lateralis, blood pressure acquisition, body composition, and maximal strength assessments (1RM). The exercise trial will consist of sets of leg press exercises performed to failure with a 2-second concentric and 2-second eccentric cadence at 20% of their 1RM using 60% of the supine limb occlusion pressure (LOP) with 1-minute rest intervals. Assessments will be performed immediately before and after the exercise bout during each treatment session. Two-way ANOVAs will be used to examine the main effects of treatment and treatment-order interaction on pulse wave velocity, muscle cross-sectional area, and perceptual response.