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Tom Platz did not use blood flow
restricted training, and for good
reason, as indicated in this study.
HYPOTHESIS
The principle of training
specificity states that muscle
will adapt to the specific
demands placed on it. Blood
flow restricted training (BFR)
places specific demands on
muscle tissue such as high
metabolic stress and high
momentary muscle fatigue.
One would expect that this
type of training would result
in significant increases in
muscle strength and/or
strength endurance.
RESEARCH
The University of Southern
Denmark took 20 subjects and
split them into two groups; one
group performed 20 workouts
of leg extensions (four sets
to failure at 20% 1RM) with
BFR over the course of 19
days while the other group
performed the same workout
with the same amount of
weight and reps but without
BFR. Strength and muscle
biopsies were taken before,
during and five and 12 days
after training had stopped.
FINDINGS
Gains in rapid muscle force-
generating capacity and
strength were not manifested
before 12 days after all training
had stopped. The group that
didn’t use blood flow restriction
experienced no changes at all.CONCLUSION
Blood flow–restricted exercise
produces substantial metabolic
stress which reduces muscle
contractile capacity for an
extended period (days to
weeks) resulting in delayed
manifestation of strength gains
after training has stopped.APPLICATION
This study had subjects
perform BFR training every
weekday, twice per day. This
led to prolonged decrements in
strength and delayed strength
gains for nearly two weeks
after training stopped. If
incorporating BFR into your
routine, leave sufficient
recovery time between BFR
sessions and if strength
becomes stagnant or even
declines, discontinue BFR
training for a couple weeks.