Abstract

Blood flow restriction (BFR) training, a technique combining low intensity exercise with blood flow occlusion, has been shown to be safe and effective in eliciting gains in muscle mass and strength across multiple populations including athletes and rehabilitating individuals. Benefits such as producing less muscle damage leading to faster recovery after training and the deterrence of muscular atrophy after surgery have made this an increasingly popular technique. Currently, much of the literature has probed the long-term effects of BFR on the human body, often testing participants over a few weeks or months. Despite this, little is still known about the immediate effects of BFR. A study was conducted to examine the acute effects of BFR on a young and healthy population. Chapter 1 provides theoretical context to this project and examines the current literature. Chapter 2 describes the study that was conducted to gain greater insight into the acute effects of BFR training, specifically looking at the effects on vasodilation, blood flow and muscle oxygenation. Lastly, chapter 3 includes a conclusion and future research directions.