BFR Training on a Bike to Augment RC Strength, Leg Strength, and VO2 Peak

Can BFR Training on a Bike Augment RC Strength, Leg Strength, and VO2 Peak

This study will investigate if subjects who bike at 40% of heart rate reserve (HRR) with blood flow restriction (BFR) applied to bilateral thighs for 10 minutes (at 80% limb occlusion pressure) will experience greater gains in 10 rep max for dominant lower extremity leg press, greater gains in rotator cuff strength (hand held dynamometer testing for supraspinatus and external rotators) and greater gains in VO2 peak.

This study will randomize healthy adult subjects to one of two groups: a BFR biking group that performs 10 min of cycling at 40% heart rate reserve (HRR) with bilateral occlusion applied to the proximal thighs (80% LOP) or to a non-biking BFR group perform 10 min of cycling at 40% HRR. After each cycling session subjects will perform 3x15 of the scaption exercise and 3x15 sidelying external rotation with their dominant upper extremity. They will initially start training the shoulder at 30% of 1RM (estimated from an equation formula) for the first 2 weeks followed by increasing training load by 1lbs each exercise every 2 weeks. The training program will last 6 weeks (3x week for 6 weeks, total of 18 sessions).

Pretest and posttests will include: VO2 peak testing on a cycle using Cosmed metabolic cart, hand held dynamometry to measure strength of the supraspinatus and external rotators of the shoulder using traditional manual muscle test positions, and on a separate day 10RM testing on a leg press for the dominant lower extremity.

Inclusion Criteria: healthy adults (18 yrs of age and older) -

Exclusion Criteria: no current musculoskeletal symptoms/injuries; no prior lower extremity or shoulder/upper extremity surgery (dominant) during the prior year; no contraindications to BFR training

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