# Low-Load Conditioning with Blood Flow Restriction and Whole-Body Vibration Induces Post-Activation Performance Enhancement Effects and Improves Anaerobic Performance: A Pilot Study

## TL;DR

This study shows that low-load exercises with blood flow restriction or whole-body vibration can boost anaerobic performance, with the best results when both methods are combined.

## Contribution

The novel finding is that combining blood flow restriction and whole-body vibration with low-load exercises enhances anaerobic performance more effectively and faster.

## Key findings

- Combining BFR or WBV with low-load conditioning significantly improves anaerobic performance metrics like mean power and total work.
- The BFR+WBV group showed faster performance enhancement at shorter rest intervals compared to other groups.
- Peak power and fatigue slopes were significantly affected by BFR and WBV protocols.

## Abstract

This study examined the post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) effects of low-load conditioning (30% of 1 repetition maximum (RM) squat) with blood flow restriction (BFR) or whole-body vibration (WBV) only, and with both BFR and WBV on anaerobic performance. Forty anaerobically-trained men were randomly allocated into one of the four groups: CON, BFR, WBV or BFR+WBV, and completed five visits: Visit 1: 1RM test and familiarization session; Visit 2: Wingate test; and Visits 3 to 5: conditioning according to the group assignment, followed by a Wingate test after different rest intervals: 4 (T4), 8 (T8) or 12 (T12) min on each visit, respectively, in randomized order. Capillary blood lactate samples were collected at the 3rd, the 5th, the 8th and the 10th min after the Wingate test. Analysis revealed significant interaction effects between group and time on peak blood lactate concentration (p < 0.019). The within-group analysis showed that compared to PRE, 1) mean power (mean-P), mean power/body mass (mean-P/BM) and total work (TW) of all three groups were significantly greater at T8 (p < 0.045); 2) peak power and peak power/body mass of the BFR and the WBV group were greater at T8 (p < 0.024); 3) minimal power of the BFR+WBV group was significantly lower, and fatigue slopes were significantly greater at T8 (p < 0.032); and 4) mean-P, mean-P/BM and TW of the BFR+WBV group were significantly greater at T4 (p < 0.015). Low-load conditioning combined with BFR or WBV may induce potential PAPE to enhance anaerobic performance, and the combined-type of the protocol may induce such benefits in a faster time fashiont.