Pulse wave reflection responses to bench press with and without practical blood flow restriction.

Resistance exercise is recommended to increase muscular strength, but may also increase pulse wave reflection. Resistance exercise combined with practical blood flow restriction (pBFR) on pulse wave reflection is unknown.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the differences between bench press with pBFR and traditional high-load bench press on pulse wave reflection characteristics in resistance-trained men.

METHODS: Sixteen resistance-trained men participated in the study. Pulse wave reflection characteristics were assessed before and after low-load bench press with pBFR (LL-pBFR), traditional high-load bench press (HL), and a control (CON). A repeated measures ANOVA was used to evaluate the conditions across time on pulse wave reflection characteristics.

RESULTS: There were significant (p≤0.05) interactions for heart rate, augmentation index, augmentation index normalized at 75bpm, augmentation pressure, time-tension index and wasted left ventricular energy such that they were increased after LL-pBFR and HL compared to rest and CON, with no differences between LL-pBFR and HL. Aortic pulse pressure (p<0.001) was only elevated after LL-pBFR compared to rest. In addition, there was a significant (p≤0.05) interaction for aortic diastolic blood pressure (BP) such that it was decreased after LL-pBFR compared to rest and CON but not HL. The subendocardial viability ratio and diastolic-pressure-time index were significantly different between LL-pBFR and HL compared to rest and CON. There were no significant interactions for brachial systolic or diastolic BP, aortic systolic BP, or time of the reflected wave.

CONCLUSION: Acute bench press resistance exercise using LL-pBFR or HL, significantly altered pulse wave reflection characteristics without differences between LL-pBFR and HL.