Blood Flow Restricted Training - Kaatsu

Die Okklusion eines Muskels während einer mechanischen Belastung hat sich bereits in unzählichen Untersuchungen als effektive Methode zur Erzeugung von Muskelwachstum herausgestellt (1, 2, 3, 4). Hierbei wird die Muskulatur bewusst mit Sauerstoff unterversorgt, was wiederum im Nachhinein eine anabole Reaktion im Körper in Form einer vermehrten Ausschüttung von IGF-1 und HGH mit sich bringt (5). Dafür sind nichteinmal hohe Widerstände notwendig, was insbesondere für verletzte oder gesundheitlich eingeschränkte Menschen von Interesse sein könnte. Dabei erschien es jedoch sicher dem einen oder anderen Leser etwas unheimlich oder gar schädlich, die Muskulatur für mehrere Minuten beinahe vollständig vom Blutkreislauf zu trennen. Von den etwas Wagemutigeren, die die schmerzhafte Erfahrung "Okklusion" aus erster Hand erlebt haben mal ganz abgesehen. Man mag sich fragen: Könnten dabei Teile des betroffenen Gewebes absterben? Wie wirkt sich "Kaatsu" auf den Blutdruck aus und gibt es Anlass für Bedenken bei cardiovaskulärer Krankheitsgeschichte der Anwender?

Einige Untersuchungen lassen jedoch vermuten, dass diese Sorgen unbegründet sind:

Use and safety of KAATSU training:Results of a national survey

[...]The purpose of the present study is to know the present state of KAATSU training in Japan and examine the incidence of adverse events in the field.[...]
 Based on survey results, 12,642 persons have received KAATSU training (male 45.4%, female 54.6%). KAATSU training has been applied to all generations of people including the young (<20 years old) and the elderly (>80 years old).[...]
The incidence of side effects was as follows; venous thrombus (0.055%), pulmonary embolism (0.008%) and rhabdomyolysis (0.008%). These results indicate that the KAATSU training is a safe and promising method for training athletes and healthy persons, and can also be applied to persons with various physical conditions. (6)

Effects of short-term, low-intensity resistance training with vascular restriction on arterial compliance in untrained young men

Previous studies have shown that low-intensity resistance training with restricted blood flow, known as KAATSU training, increases muscle strength and size. Its effects on blood vessel function, however, have not been examined. We compared the effects of a short-term KAATSU resistance training protocol and traditional high-intensity resistance training on muscle strength and blood vessel function in young, untrained men.[...]
Arterial compliance of the large and small arteries was not affected by the either the KAATSU or traditional high-intensity resistance training interventions. (7)

Blood pressure response to slow walking combined with KAATSU in the elderly

The purpose of the present study was to examine the blood pressure and heart rate response to walking with and without blood flow restriction (KAATSU-walk) in the elderly.[...]
There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in blood pressure responses between the Control and KAATSU-160mmHg exercise, however significantly higher blood pressures were observed for the KAATSU-200mmHg exercise (112-127mmHg for MAP) compared to the Control. However, these values are still lower than those of previous reported during moderate to heavy resistance exercise.[...]. (8)

 Stattdessen kann man vielleicht sogar davon ausgehen, dass neben der Vergrößerung des Muskelquerschnitts durch die Okklusion auch noch weitere, bisher unerwartet positive körperliche Veränderungen herbeigeführt werden könnten:

KAATSU resistance training decreased the sinus pause in a patient demonstrating sick sinus syndrome. A case report

The effectiveness of KAATSU resistance training (Kaatsu) has been established as a method not only to increase muscle size and power but also to benefit patients with orthopedic and cardiac diseases.[...]
In this case, the sinus pause of a patient with sick sinus syndrome (SSS) decreased to approximately 40% with Holter ECG monitoring after Kaatsu resistance training. The mechanism regarding such an improvement by Kaatsu is herein discussed. Therefore, an additional effect of Kaatsu is reported concerning the decreased sinus pause observed in a SSS patient. (9)

Sollte sich der Nutzen von okkludierter Muskulatur während dem Training weiter bestätigen, während gesundheitliche Nebenwirkungen ausbleiben, könnte diese neuartige Trainingsform tatsächlich eine vielversprechende Option in den angewandten Trainingswissenschaften werden.

Quellen:

1. T. Fujita, W. F. Brechue, K. Kurita, Y. Sato and T. Abe (2008) Increased muscle volume and strength following six days of low-intensity resistance training with restricted muscle blood flow . International Journal of KAATSU Training Research 4: 1-8 .

2. T. Yasuda, T. Abe, Y. Sato, T. Midorikawa, C. F. Kearns, K. Inoue, T. Ryushi and N. Ishii (2005) Muscle fiber cross-sectional area is increased after two weeks of twice daily KAATSU-resistance training . International Journal of KAATSU Training Research 1: 65-70 .

3. N. Ishii, H. Madarame, K. Odagiri, M. Naganuma and K. Shinoda (2005) Circuit training without external load induces hypertrophy in lower-limb muscles when combined with moderate venous occlusion . International Journal of KAATSU Training Research 1: 24-28 .

4. T. Abe, C. F. Kearns, S. Fujita, M. Sakamaki, Y. Sato and W. F. Brechue (2009) Skeletal muscle size and strength are increased following walk training with restricted leg muscle blood flow: implications for training duration and frequency . International Journal of KAATSU Training Research 5: 9-15 .

5. 2. T. Abe, T. Yasuda, T. Midorikawa, Y. Sato, C. F. Kearns, K. Inoue, K. Koizumi and N. Ishii (2005) Skeletal muscle size and circulating IGF-1 are increased after two weeks of twice daily “KAATSU” resistance training . International Journal of KAATSU Training Research 1: 6-12 .

6. T. Nakajima, M. Kurano, H. Iida, H. Takano, H. Oonuma, T. Morita, K. Meguro, Y. Sato, T. Nagata and KAATSU Training Group (2006) Use and safety of KAATSU training:Results of a national survey . International Journal of KAATSU Training Research 2: 5-13 .

7. S. J. Kim, V. D. Sherk, M. G. Bemben and D. A. Bemben (2009) Effects of short-term, low-intensity resistance training with vascular restriction on arterial compliance in untrained young men . International Journal of KAATSU Training Research 5: 1-8 .

8. M. Sakamaki, S. Fujita, Y. Sato, M. G. Bemben and T. Abe (2008) Blood pressure response to slow walking combined with KAATSU in the elderly . International Journal of KAATSU Training Research 4: 17-20 .

9. I. Satoh (2006) KAATSU resistance training decreased the sinus pause in a patient demonstrating sick sinus syndrome. A case report . International Journal of KAATSU Training Research 2: 53-56 .