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The main goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of different reperfusion duration following intra-conditioning blood flow restriction (BFR) on bar velocity during the bench press exercise and muscle viscoelastic properties of the triceps brachii.

Eleven resistance trained males (age: 24.3 ± 4.9 years; body mass: 85.5 ± 13.2 kg; bench press 1RM: 123.6 ± 25.4 kg; training experience: 6.8 ± 5.1 years) volunteered for the study. During the experimental sessions participants performed 5 sets of 3 repetitions of the bench press exercise with a load of 60% 1RM under four different conditions: two BFR (80% AOP) and two control conditions. For the BFR conditions, cuffs were applied before each set for 4.5 min and released 30 or 60 s before the start of the set as reperfusion. Under the control conditions, BFR was not applied and the total duration of rest intervals amounted to 5 min and 5.5 min. Measurements of viscoelastic properties were conducted at baseline and immediately after completion of each set of the bench press exercise.

The two-way ANOVA showed no significant condition × set interaction for mean and peak bar velocity (p = 0.93; p = 0.787; accordingly), and no main effect of condition for mean and peak bar velocity (p = 0.57; p = 0.417; accordingly). The Friedman’s test showed no differences in oscillation frequency (p = 0.156), stiffness (p = 0.368), and the logarithmic decrement of tissue oscillation (p = 0.644).

The results of this study indicate that BFR during rest intervals does not acutely influence mean and peak bar velocity, as well as mechanical properties of the triceps brachii regardless of the duration of reperfusion.

Keywords: stiffness, athletic performance, occlusion, myotonometric assessment, ischemia

It can be concluded that the application of intra-conditioning BFR does not acutely influence mean and peak bar velocity, regardless of the duration of reperfusion (30 s vs. 60 s). Moreover, the absence of changes in mechanical and contractile properties of the triceps brachii long head were recorded after each set under every condition. However, it should be noted that there were no increases in bar velocity under every condition, thus the role of reperfusion in intra-conditioning BFR warrants further investigation. Further, the effectiveness of BFR is most likely influenced by various factors, including the % of AOP, the duration of BFR, the number of BFR cycles and the duration of reperfusion concurrently impacting each other. Despite the growing body of research related to this topic, further research is needed to formulate definitive conclusions and recommendations for practice and research.