Metabolic cost of locomotion during treadmill walking with blood flow restriction. (18th November 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mendonca, Goncalo V.; Vaz, João R.; Teixeira, Micael S.; Grácio, Telma; Pezarat‐Correia, Pedro
• Is Part Of: Clinical physiology and functional imaging. Volume 34:Number 4(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: 308
• Page End: 316
• Publication Date: 2013-11-18
• Subjects: Physiology, Pathological -- Periodicals; Diagnostic imaging -- Periodicals; 612
• DOI: 10.1111/cpf.12098
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1475-0961

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="cpf12098-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p>We explored whether interval walking with blood flow restriction (BFR) increases net metabolic cost of locomotion in healthy young men at their optimal walking speed. We also determined whether decreased walking economy resulting from BFR might be accompanied by an increase in ventilation relative to VO<sub>2</sub> and VCO<sub>2</sub>. Finally, we examined possible relationships between the changes in ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and those obtained in minute ventilation (<italic>V</italic><sub>E</sub>) during walking with BFR. Eighteen healthy men (age: 22·5 ± 3·4 years) performed graded treadmill exercise to assess VO<sub>2max</sub>. In a randomized fashion, participants also performed five bouts of 3‐min treadmill exercise with and without BFR at their optimal walking speed. Walking with BFR elicited an overall increase in net VO<sub>2</sub> (10·4%) compared with that seen in the non‐BFR condition (<italic>P</italic><0·05). The participants also demonstrated greater <italic>V</italic><sub>E</sub> and <italic>V</italic><sub>E</sub>/VO<sub>2</sub> values while walking with BFR (<italic>P</italic><0·05). Conversely, <italic>V</italic><sub>E</sub>/VCO<sub>2</sub> was similar between conditions at each walking bout. We found no significant correlation between the changes in <italic>V</italic><sub>E</sub> and RPE induced by walking with BFR (<italic>r </italic>=<italic> </italic>0·38, <italic>P</italic>>0·05). Our results indicate that (i) BFR decreases net walking economy in healthy young men, even at their optimal walking speed; (ii) heightened ventilatory drive may explain a small proportion of BFR effects on walking economy; and (iii) the ventilatory responses to BFR walking may be largely independent of changes in perceived exertion and are likely matched to the flux of CO<sub>2</sub> between muscles and respiratory centres.</p> </abstract>