Low-volume strength and endurance training preserves immobilization-induced impairment in hyperemic response to exhaustive dynamic grip exercise

 

Fumiko Ohmori1, Takafumi Hamaoka1, Kiyoshi Shiroishi2, Takuya Osada3, Norio Murase3), Ryotaro Kime3, Yuko Kurosawa4, Shiro Ichimura5, Toshiyuki Homma6, Mika Matsumura7, Kazuki Esaki3, Kuniko Yamaguchi8, and Toshihito Katsumura3

1National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya; 2Department of Judotherapy and Sports Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, Ryotokuji University; 3Department of Sports Medicine for Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical University; 4Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati; 5Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science; 6Department of sports Science, Japan Institute of Sports Sciences; 7Department of Pediatrics, Tokyo Medical University; 8Yamanashi Gakuin Junior Coll

 

This study aimed at examining the effect of 3-week upper limb immobilization on the structure of the conduit artery and hyperemic response (BFhyp) to exhaustive dynamic handgrip exercise (Exdyn) and the effect of low-volume strength and/or endurance training during immobilization.  Healthy young volunteers were placed into immobilization only (IMM), immobilization with strength training (STR), immobilization with endurance training (ETR), and immobilization with both endurance and strength training of twice weekly (STR+ETR) and control (CNT).  Endurance training comprised Exdyn at 30% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) at a rate of 1 repetition per 1 second.  Strength training comprised an isometric handgrip exercise at 70% MVC for 2 seconds with a 2-second rest interval, repeated 10 times.  We measured the brachial artery diameter, blood flow at resting baseline and BFhyp after Exdyn for 5 minutes using ultrasound methods pre- and post-immobilization.  There was no significant difference between pre- and post-immobilization in any parameters at resting baseline.  Two-way ANOVA shows a significant interaction (group * pre-post) in BFhyp (p<0.05).  The post-hoc comparison denotes a significant difference in BFhyp between CNT and IMM, STR, and STR+ETR, between IMM and both ETR and STR+ETR.  In conclusion, the 3-week upper limb immobilization did not influence baseline structure of the artery but decreased BFhyp. During immobilization, strength training did not prevent the blunt BFhp, endurance training alone preserved BFhyp, and dual training increased BFhyp.

 

Key words: immobilization, endurance training, strength training