Changes of α-Motor Neuron Excitability after Low-Intensity Exercise with Transient Restriction of Blood Flow

Abstract

PURPOSE:Low-intensity exercise with transient restriction of blood flow to muscle could be an alternative rehabilitation method which avoids the problems associated with conventional high-intensity exercise. However, the mechanism of low-intensity exercise with transient restriction of blood flow is not clearly known. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of improvement of muscular function after low-intensity exercise with transient restriction of blood flow using H-reflex analysis.METHODS:Twenty one healthy young adults with no medical history of neurological or musculoskeletal disorder voluntarily participated in this study. The α-motor neuron excitability of the triceps surae was assessed using the H-reflex. The amplitude of the M-wave and H-reflex were measured across three conditions: rest, after low-intensity exercise without restriction of blood flow and after low-intensity exercise with restriction of blood flow. The subjects performed low-intensity ankle plantar flexion exercise at their own pace for one minute without or with transient restriction of blood flow achieved by a sphygmomanometer cuff on popliteal fossa at a pressure of 120㎜ of mercury(120 ㎜Hg).RESULTS:No significant changes of the excitability of the α-motor neuron were obtained across three different conditions.CONCLUSION:This study found that low-intensity exercise with transient restriction of blood flow did not influence to α-motor neuron excitability of the triceps surae. From the results, I could come to the conclusion that further study will be required.