Acute effects of blood flow restriction on EMG activity of arm muscles during karate tsuki strike in young men

Background: The positive effect of Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) on muscular performance have been documented in previous researches. However, its effect on agonist-antagonist cocontraction during fist movement has not been considered from a biomechanical perspective. The purpose of this research was to investigate the acute effect of BFR on EMG activity of arm muscles during karate tsuki strike in young men.

Methods: 20 professional young, male karatekas voluntarily participated in this research. Biceps and triceps muscular activity and their cocontraction in the right arm (with BFR) and the left arm (control) were captured and compared using an EMG device during tsuki strike until exhaustion.

Results: The results of independent t-test showed that biceps and triceps EMG activity in the BFR arm were significantly higher than the control arm (24.45% and 27.78% for biceps and triceps, respectively). Moreover, muscular cocontraction in BFR arm was significantly less than control arm (32.05%).

Conclusion: The results indicate that acute arm BFR can increase arm muscle EMG activity during tsuki strike until exhaustion, which indirectly it is a sign for activation of type II motor units. However, BFR decreased agonist-antagonist cocontraction, which may increase the risk for injury during elbow extension in throw fist.