The Effect of Eight Weeks Resistance Training With and Without Vascular Occlusion on Physical Fitness Indexes, Growth Hormone, and Insulin-like Growth Factor in Male Judokas

Purpose: The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of 8 weeks resistance training with and without vascular occlusion on physical fitness indexes, growth hormone, and Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in male judokas.  Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 20 male judokas were divided into two groups: 1. Traditional resistance training along with judo training without blood vascular occlusion (n=10); and 2. Resistance training group along with judo training with blood vascular occlusion (n=10). Resistance training schedule included 3 sessions per week, each session lasting 45 to 60 minutes for 8 weeks. The comparison of means within and between groups was done by paired sample t test and ANCOVA test, respectively. All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS Version 20. Results were significant at P≤0.05.  Results: The results showed that cardio respiratory endurance (6.28±0.05 vs 6.13±0.09 and 6.29±0.04 vs 6.20±0.09; P=0.001), anaerobic power (41.00±5.27 vs 46.10±4.58 and 38.10±6.21 vs 40.60±6.74; P=0.001), speed (5.92±0.34 vs 5.50±0.30 and 6.14±0.30 vs 6.04±0.31; P=0.001), agility (9.41±0.09 vs 9.26±0.15 and 9.37±0.11 vs 9.33±0.11; P=0.001), muscular endurance (53.60±4.40 vs 69.80±11.47 and 56.10±5.79 vs 60.50±5.91; P=0.001) and power (2.43±0.08 vs 2.50±0.08 and 2.38±0.10 vs 2.41±0.11; P=0.001), changed significantly in both resistance groups with and without vascular occlusion. Growth hormone (1.79±0.35 vs 2.69±0.31 and 1.46±0.20 vs 1.65±0.34; P=0.001) and insulin-like factor growth changed significantly (211.90±5.78 vs 218.80±6.30 and 211.00±6.10 vs 214.30±6.12; P=0.001). Concerning intergroup means changes in variables of cardio respiratory endurance (P=0.03), anaerobic ability (P=0.02), speed (P=0.03), agility (P=0.03), muscular endurance (P=0.007), power (P=0.01), growth hormone (P=0.01) and insulin-like growth factor (P=0.03), there was a significant change between two groups of resistance training with vascular occlusion and without vascular occlusion.  Conclusion: Eight weeks of resistance training with and without vascular occlusion, improved motor-physical fitness indexes and increased growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor in male judokas.