Abstract
Previous research has demonstrated favorable outcomes with restricted blood flow training. However, it has not been remained unclear that effect of acute aerobic exercise with blood flow districted on glucose metabolism. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate if using elastic knee bands as a mode of blood flow restriction (BFR) could increase glucose metabolism and heart rate (HR) during low intensity exercise. Thirteen young males completed two trials of cycling exercise with (BFR) and without (control) restricted blood flow. Elastic knee bands were placed around the upper thigh of both legs during BFR. They performed a low intensity cycling exercise consisting of 10 min at VT-10%V.O2peak each trial. Glucose metabolism was assessed by measuring blood glucose levels, blood lactate levels, and the exogenous glucose metabolic rate. Blood glucose and blood lactate dynamics did not significantly differ between the BFR and control trials. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in the dynamics of exogenous glucose metabolic rate between the BFR and control trials. The mean HR during exercise was significantly higher in the BFR than in the control trials. In conclusion, no significant difference in exogenous glucose metabolism was observed between the BFR and control trials, indicating that the substrates of energy supply in aerobic exercise with BFR was due to preferential use of glycogen breakdown in muscle. The present study results appear to provide a novel insight into the mechanisms underlying BFR exercise induced changes in glucose metabolism in human.
