Central cardiovascular hemodynamic response to unilateral handgrip exercise with blood flow restriction.

Exercise training with blood flow restriction (BFR) increases muscle size and strength. However, there is limited investigation into the effects of BFR on cardiovascular health, particularly central hemodynamic load. To determine the effects of BFR exercise on central hemodynamic load (heart rate-HR, central pressures, arterial wave reflection, and aortic stiffness). Fifteen males (age = 25 ± 2 years; BMI = 27 ± 2 kg/m HR increased above baseline and time control for all handgrip bouts, but was similar between the moderate load with and without BFR conditions (moderate-load with BFR =  + 9 ± 2; moderate-load without BFR =  + 8 ± 2 bpm, p < 0.001). A similar finding was noted for central pressure (e.g., moderate load with BFR, cMAP =  + 14 ± 1 mmHg, p < 0.001). No change occurred for RM% or AIx (p > 0.05) for any testing stage. TSI% increased during the moderate-load conditions (p = 0.01), and aPWV increased above baseline following moderate-load handgrip with BFR only (p = 0.012). Combined with BFR, moderate load handgrip training with BFR does not significantly augment central hemodynamic load during handgrip exercise in young healthy men.