A Single Bout of Continuous Blood Flow Restriction Walking Does Not Negatively Affect Lower Limb Microvascular Function

Introduction: Diminished macrovascular vasodilatory function has been reported following one blood flow restriction (BFR) walking bout. The primary aim was to investigate the potential effect that walking exercise (control, BFR) and cool-down (supine, rolling massage [RM], walk) had on microvascular function. Methods: Fourteen participants walked for 15 minutes at a 3/10 rating of perceived exertion without (Session 1) and with (Sessions 2-4) BFR (60% limb occlusion pressure, LOP). Participants either rested supine, had RM performed on the thigh, or actively walked for the first two minutes of the cool-down. Microvascular functions of the quadriceps and calf muscles of a randomized leg were measured before and 20 minutes after each walking bout using the vascular occlusion test (VOT) via near-infrared spectroscopy. Between session intraclass correlations (ICC) and minimal detectable change (MDC) were calculated for microvascular function of each muscle. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was performed to assess if condition (CON+Supine, BFR+Supine, BFR+RM, BFR+Walk) and/or time (pre-exercise, post-exercise) affected microvascular function. Statistical significance was set at p