Acute Effects of Autoregulated and Non-autoregulated Blood Flow Restrictive Bicep Curls

The purpose of this study is to investigate the acute effects of autoregulated (AR) and non-autoregulated (NAR) blood flow restriction (BFR) bicep curls on indices of arterial stiffness. We are attempting to differentiate physiological changes with AR and NAR bicep curl exercise. Twenty adults aged 18-40 years old will undergo three treatment sessions (control (no BFR), AR BFR and NAR BFR) in a randomized order separated by one week. A familiarization session will also occur one week before starting the treatment period. Each subject will undergo a series of tests including anthropometry, ultrasonography of the carotid artery, applanation tonometry, ultrasonography of the vastus lateralis, blood pressure acquisition, body composition, and maximal strength assessments (1RM). After a familiarization session with the BFR device, subjects will perform arm curls during the three treatment sessions with 4 sets to failure with a 2 seconds concentric and 2 seconds eccentric cadence, at 20% 1RM using 60% of the supine limb occlusion pressure (LOP) with 1-minute rest intervals. Assessments will be performed immediately before and after the exercise bout during each treatment session. Two-way ANOVAs will be used to examine the effects of treatment and the treatment-order interaction on pulse wave velocity, beta-stiffness index, and augmentation index.