HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free A corrigendum has been published All Versions of this Article: 100/5/1460    most recent 01267.2005v1 Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (20) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Abe, T. Articles by Sato, Y. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Abe, T. Articles by Sato, Y.

Muscle size and strength are increased following walk training with restricted venous blood flow from the leg muscle, Kaatsu-walk training

¹Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, and ²Department of Ischemic Circulatory Physiology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Submitted 3 October 2005 ; accepted in final form 29 November 2005

Previous studies have shown that low-intensity resistance training with restricted muscular venous blood flow (Kaatsu) causes muscle hypertrophy and strength gain. To investigate the effects of daily physical activity combined with Kaatsu, we examined the acute and chronic effects of walk training with and without Kaatsu on MRI-measured muscle size and maximum dynamic (one repetition maximum) and isometric strength, along with blood hormonal parameters. Nine men performed Kaatsu-walk training, and nine men performed walk training alone (control-walk). Training was conducted two times a day, 6 days/wk, for 3 wk using five sets of 2-min bouts (treadmill speed at 50 m/min), with a 1-min rest between bouts. Mean oxygen uptake during Kaatsu-walk and control-walk exercise was 19.5 (SD 3.6) and 17.2 % (SD 3.1) of treadmill-determined maximum oxygen uptake, respectively. Serum growth hormone was elevated (P < 0.01) after acute Kaatsu-walk exercise but not in control-walk exercise. MRI-measured thigh muscle cross-sectional area and muscle volume increased by 4–7%, and one repetition maximum and maximum isometric strength increased by 8–10% in the Kaatsu-walk group. There was no change in muscle size and dynamic and isometric strength in the control-walk group. Indicators of muscle damage (creatine kinase and myoglobin) and resting anabolic hormones did not change in both groups. The results suggest that the combination of leg muscle blood flow restriction with slow-walk training induces muscle hypertrophy and strength gain, despite the minimal level of exercise intensity. Kaatsu-walk training may be a potentially useful method for promoting muscle hypertrophy, covering a wide range of the population, including the frail and elderly.

muscle hypertrophy; dynamic and isometric strength; anabolic hormones; ischemia

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Fujita, T. Abe, M. J. Drummond, J. G. Cadenas, H. C. Dreyer, Y. Sato, E. Volpi, and B. B. Rasmussen Blood flow restriction during low-intensity resistance exercise increases S6K1 phosphorylation and muscle protein synthesis J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2007; 103(3): 903 - 910. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. V. Reeves, R. R. Kraemer, D. B. Hollander, J. Clavier, C. Thomas, M. Francois, and V. D. Castracane Comparison of hormone responses following light resistance exercise with partial vascular occlusion and moderately difficult resistance exercise without occlusion J Appl Physiol, December 1, 2006; 101(6): 1616 - 1622. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Meyer Does blood flow restriction enhance hypertrophic signaling in skeletal muscle? J Appl Physiol, May 1, 2006; 100(5): 1443 - 1444. [Full Text] [PDF]