Blood Flow Restriction Resistance Exercise and Cardiac Cycle Dynamics

Blood flow restriction resistance exercise uses partial vascular occlusion of a limb during low weight resistance exercises to stimulate muscle strengthening and growth. This is commonly used during rehabilitation from an injury. Because blood flow in and out of the limbs is decreased, this may have consequences for blood flow through the heart. The purpose of this study will be to test cardiac dynamics during blood flow restriction resistance exercise to determine if cardiac blood flow is impacted. It is hypothesized that both non-BFR exercise and BFR exercise will increase heart rate shortening various cardiac cycle parameters, but BFR exercise will increase the isovolumetric contraction time vs non-BFR exercise due to an increase in total peripheral resistance. It is also hypothesized that BFR exercise will lower early ventricular filling parameters due to lower venous return.