The comparing effects of four-week rock climbing with or without blood flow restriction on vascular endothelial growth factor and Growth Hormone in elite climbers

Background: Angiogenesis and increased capillary density of skeletal muscle is one of the potential physiological changes during the flow restriction exercise (BFR). Therefore, the aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of four weeks rock climbing with or without blood flow restriction on vascular endothelial growth factor and Growth Hormone in elite climbers.

Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 26 elite climbers (aged 25-30 years; body fat percent 8-14%; 4 years athletic training history) in a randomized and double-blind design were divided in two equal rock climbing with blood flow restriction (BFR) or rock climbing without blood flow restriction (NBFR) groups. The training protocol included three sessions per week for 4 weeks of rock climbing with a severity of 80-60% of the difficulty of the route. The cuff pressure was in the range of 40 to 100 mm Hg during rock climbing. Blood samples were obtained in the 2 phases: before and 24 hours after rock climbing protocols. Vascular endothelial growth factor and Growth Hormone were analyzed. Finally, Data were analyzed independent and independent T test. The significance level was set at p<0.05.

Results: Basal levels of GH and VEGF was significantly increased after four weeks rock climbing with BFR. However, the rock climbing without BFR had not any significant effect on the basal levels of GH and VEGF.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that the rock climbing with BFR by increasing of basal levels of GH and VEGF could be increased angiogenesis process.