Hypoalgesic effects of a blood flow restriction technique at moderate intensity with or without motor imagery: a single-blind randomized controlled trial.

The main objective was to assess the hypoalgesic effect of adding blood flow restriction (BFR) training with or without motor imagery (MI) to moderate-intensity exercise. The secondary objective was to analyse the correlations of the pain pressure thresholds (PPTs) regarding perceived pain intensity, perceived fatigue, and cuff pressure discomfort. A sample of 42 asymptomatic participants were randomly assigned to 3 groups: control group (CG), BFR group, and BFR with MI group. All participants performed a squat exercise at an intensity of 60% of 1RM. For the BFR groups, blood occlusion occurred at 80% of maximal arterial occlusive pressure. Local, bilateral, and distal PPT were assessed pre-intervention, post-intervention and 48 h post-intervention. The perceived fatigue was assessed post-intervention, and pain intensity was assessed only 48 h post-intervention. There were intragroup differences in the CG and BFR + MI group in the local PPT between the pre-intervention and post-intervention measurements ( Moderate-intensity resistance training with high occlusion did not generate hypoalgesia but did appear to generate a hyperalgesic response within 48 h after the intervention.