Relationship Between Leg Circumference and Limb Occlusion Pressure in Dominant and Non-Dominant Legs Using an Automated BFR Device in Healthy Male Individuals

Year 2025, Volume: 30 Issue: 3, 98 - 103, 26.09.2025

Okan Kamiş , Neslihan Akçay , Cem Sofuoğlu , Kadir Keskin

https://doi.org/10.53434/gbesbd.1701529

Abstract

The aim of this research was twofold: i) to investigate the relationship between leg circumference and limb occlusion pressure (LOP) by using an automated blood flow restriction (BFR) device, ii) to compare the LOP and leg circumferences between the dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) legs. One hundred and four participants (age=20.79±2.47 years; height= 177.8±5.72 cm; body weight=73.74±13.24 kg) visited the laboratory for the testing session. D and ND leg circumferences were measured with a tape measure. After 10 minutes of resting, LOP was then assessed bilaterally in the supine position using an automated BFR device (Cuff width: 10 cm). Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) was used to analyse the relationship between leg circumference and LOP values. A simple linear regression analysis was also conducted on the D and ND legs to determine the predictive relationship between leg circumference and LOP. Paired sample t-test was used to analyse differences for LOP and leg circumferences between D and ND legs. Moderate positive correlation was found between D and ND leg circumference and LOP (r=0.5937, p<0.0001; r=0.5999, p<0.0001), respectively. The linear regression analysis model was found statistically significant (F(1,102):55.51; p<0.0001) with approximately 35.24% of the variance (R²=0.3524) for the D leg and the ND leg (F(1,102):57.34; p<0.0001) with approximately 35.98% of the variance (R²=0.3598). There were significant differences between the D and ND leg for the LOP and leg circumference outcomes (p=0.029; ES: 0.217; p=0.037; ES=0.207), respectively. Our findings suggest that as leg circumference increases, LOP also tends to increase in the lower limbs when assessing LOP with an automated BFR device with a 10 cm cuff width.

Keywords

Blood flow restriction , Arterial occlusion pressure , Vascular occlusion , Thigh circumference , Autoregulation

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Gazi University Ethics Committee with the decision dated May 13, 2025 and numbered 1242357.

Supporting Institution

Not applicable

Project Number

Not applicable

Thanks

The authors would like to thank all subjects for their participation.

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