Scott Dankel

Rowan University · Department of Health and Exercise Science

The applicability of training effects from experimental research depends on the ability to quantify the degree of measurement error accurately over time, which can be accounted for by including a time-matched nonexercise control group. Yet, control groups are rarely included in studies on resistance-trained individuals. Many authors instead report...

Background: Blood flow restriction (BFR) has been shown to enhance the effectiveness of low load resistance exercise, but less research has examined its utility in conjunction with maximal isokinetic contractions, which may depend on the restrictive pressure and speed of contraction. Methods: Individuals reported to the laboratory for three visi...

Objectives: Many studies have examined the efficacy of blood flow restriction (BFR) applied during isotonic muscle actions, but its application with isokinetic exercise has been less explored and was the purpose of this systematic review. Design: Systematic Review. Methods: The online databases of Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched on...

There has been a rise in popularity of “stimulant-free” or caffeine-free fat loss supplements, but it is not well understood whether those fat loss supplements are effective at enhancing thermogenesis without caffeine’s influence. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a caffeinated and non-caffeinated commercially available fat lo...

Muscle thickness measured via ultrasound is commonly used to assess muscle size. The purpose of this study was to determine if the reliability of this measurement will improve if using the Compare Assistant tool, and whether this depends on technician experience and the muscle being assessed. Individuals came to the laboratory for two visits each s...

Caffeine is a typical active ingredient within multi-ingredient fat loss supplements due to its thermogenic properties. However, there has been a rise in popularity of "non-stimulant" or caffeine-free fat loss supplements in an attempt to circumvent caffeine-induced central nervous system stimulation while still stimulating an increase in resting e...

Caffeine is a typical active ingredient within multi-ingredient fat loss supplements due to its thermogenic properties. (1, 2) However, there has been a rise in popularity of "non-stimulant" or caffeine-free fat loss supplements in an attempt to circumvent caffeine-induced central nervous system (CNS) stimulation. Practically, the symptoms of an in...

Introduction: The use of blood flow restriction (BFR) has been shown to promote greater increases in muscle size and strength when applied during low intensity aerobic exercise and low load resistance exercise. Whether BFR can enhance the effectiveness of E-STIM has been less explored and is the purpose of this study. Evidence acquisition: The d...

The purpose of this study was to determine if muscle growth mediates increases in a strength task which was not directly trained. One hundred fifty‐one participants were randomized into control, one‐repetition maximum training (1RM‐TRAIN), or traditional training (TRAD‐TRAIN). Training groups performed isotonic elbow flexion 3x/week for six weeks....

Objectives: Concerns have been raised against the current two-sex binary category in sports competitions. The thesis states that if males and females were separated based on muscle size, it would negate the strength advantage between the sexes. We tested the possible sex differences in various strength outcomes when pair-matched for muscle thickne...

Background Isotonic exercise is the most common mode of strength training. Isotonic strength is often measured in the movement that was exercised, but isometric and isokinetic movements are also commonly used to quantify changes in muscular strength. Previous research suggests that increasing strength in one movement may not lead to an increase in...

Background: Both electrical stimulations (E-STIM) and blood flow restriction (BFR) have been shown to treat symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage, but little is known about their combined effects which was the purpose of this study. Methods: Individuals completed one set of eccentric elbow flexion exercises to induce muscle damage. Forty-ei...

The objective of this study was to determine if performing electrical stimulations (E-STIM) under blood flow restriction (BFR) would result in a greater protective effect against symptoms of muscle damage. 18 individuals (9 females) completed a damaging bout of exercise followed by a low frequency E-STIM treatment protocol on both arms, one of whic...

Strength and conditioning practices may influence injury rates in the sport of tennis. Methods: Coaches reported the number injuries over the past year. Coaches were also surveyed on whether their training program included training related to upper-body or lower-body strength, power, muscle growth, and eccentric exercise. Separate regression analys...

Background: Studies have examined the influence of post-exercise blood flow restriction as a mechanism to activate muscle afferents and assess non-local muscle fatigue. While these studies have assessed fatigue during maximal contractions, less is known on how these afferents may impact submaximal local muscle endurance which was the purpose of th...

Recommendations are that blood flow restriction (BFR) be applied relative to arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) to provide a similar stimulus. Purpose: Compare variability of the change in blood flow, shear rate, and discomfort between recommended relative pressures and an absolute pressure. Methods: During one visit, brachial arterial blood flo...

Background : Both upper and lower extremity motor symptoms are common in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and there is a need to develop objective, reliable, and valid outcome measures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and external validity of the standard and novel isometric tests in the assessment of neuromuscular functi...

Purpose To compare muscle growth adaptations between traditional high-load training and low-load training with blood flow restriction (BFR) in the calf muscles over 6 weeks. Methods 27 trained individuals performed calf exercise in both legs for 6 weeks. Each leg was randomly assigned to one of the two conditions: (1) Traditional (70% of 1RM) trai...

The prescription of resistance exercise often involves administering a set number of repetitions to be completed at a given relative load. While this accounts for individual differences in strength, it neglects to account for differences in local muscle endurance and may result in varied responses across individuals. One way of potentially creating...

Objectives: To determine if different mechanisms, i.e., changes in one-repetition maximum (1RM) strength (Δ1RM) or vascular conductance (ΔVC), mediate changes in endurance (ΔEND) following training with 70% 1RM (70/0), 15% 1RM (15/0), and 15% 1RM with blood flow restriction using 40% (15/40) or 80% (15/80) arterial occlusion pressure. Design: Secon...

Context: Blood flow restricted exercise involves the use of external pressure to enhance fatigue and augment exercise adaptations. The mechanisms by which blood flow restricted exercise limits muscular endurance are not well understood. Objective: To determine how increasing blood flow restriction pressure impacts local muscular endurance, disco...

Introduction An appropriate comparison of different cuff widths during blood flow restricted exercise requires that the cuffs are inflated to the same relative pressures. Narrow cuffs tend to be preferred and may reduce discomfort when applied during resistance exercise, but whether this is also true during walking exercise remains unknown. Method...

It has been suggested that improper post-exercise recovery or improper sequence of training may result in an ‘accumulation’ of fatigue. Despite this suggestion, there is a lack of clarity regarding which physiological mechanisms may be proposed to contribute to fatigue accumulation. The present paper explores the time course of the changes in vario...

Introduction: To compare changes in muscle size, strength, and power between free-weight and machine-based exercises. Evidence acquisition: The online databases of Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science were each searched using the following terms: ""free weights" OR barbells OR dumbbells AND machines" up until September 15, 2020. A three-level rand...

Within the resistance exercise literature echo intensity (EI) is often quantified using different regions of interest (ROI). Purpose: To compare changes in the EI of images of the biceps muscle using different ROI immediately following exercise as well as 24 and 48 hours following exercise. Methods: 27 non-resistance trained individuals visited...

Objective To investigate the role of muscle thickness changes on changes in strength following 6 weeks of unaccustomed resistance training, via retrospective analysis.Methods151 participants completed 6 weeks of no intervention (CONTROL), one-repetition maximum training (1RM-TRAIN), or traditional resistance training (TRAD-TRAIN). Groups were assig...

Aim Diseases and bed rest may result in decreased muscle size and function. While exercise is recommended as a countermeasure, there are times when diseases or injuries make it difficult for the patient to partake in an exercise intervention. Pharmaceutical interventions using a myostatin inhibitor, BYM338, have been investigated as a way to increa...

It is unclear how different applications of blood flow restriction (BFR) pressure alter blood flow characteristics. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare blood flow velocities and profiles with relative and absolute BFR pressures. METHODS: Over one visit, after 5-min of seated rest, arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) was measured with...

This systematic review and meta‐analysis examined studies on the chronic effects of exergames on muscle strength in humans. PubMed, Scopus, CENTRAL, Web of Science, SciELO, Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde, and Google Scholar were searched, and manual searches of the reference lists of included studies and hand‐searches on Physiotherapy Evidence Databas...

Background It has been observed that gluteal-femoral adipose tissue has a protective effect against risk factors for cardiovascular disease but has not yet been concluded how different evaluation methods of fat distribution affect the results. Methods To test the hypothesis that B-mode ultrasound-measured subcutaneous adipose tissue distribution i...

It is unclear whether the measurement of maximum muscle strength in younger children can be performed accurately due to factors such as motivation and maturity (i.e., the ability to receive instruction). If there is a large change in a ratio between muscular strength and size from the youngest to the oldest, then this might provide some indication...

Objectives: To demonstrate some alternate ways of presenting and analyzing pretest-posttest control group designs relative to what is commonly done in exercise science. An emphasis is placed on using simple examples and avoiding statistical jargon to enhance readability for exercise scientists. Design & Methods: To examine some concerns with how wi...

Narrow cuffs cause less discomfort than wide cuffs immediately following elbow flexion exercise in combination with blood flow restriction, possibly due to a balling up effect of the bicep underneath the cuff. In this study, we sought to examine the impact of cuff width, sex, and pressure on perceived discomfort in the quadriceps, following knee ex...

The effect of blood flow restriction therapy on recovery after experimentally induced muscle weakness and pain. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2020—The purpose was to determine if blood flow restriction with no external load could be used as a means of active therapy after experimentally induced fatigue and soreness. Twelve women and 7 men (ag...

Objective: To develop a valid method of applying blood flow restriction when the pressure cannot be known. This method involves conditioning the individual to what the goal pressure should be, such that the participant is able to recognize the sensation associated with that specific pressure. Approach: Participants were conditioned to 40% of the...

PurposeThe aponeurosis, a sheet of fibrous tissue, is the deep and superficial fascia where muscle fibers attach in pennate muscles. It is quite possible that the aponeurosis size increases in response to resistance training-induced fiber hypertrophy due to an increase in connection area. As a result, it leads to an increase in anatomical muscle cr...

PurposeUltrasound is commonly used to measure changes in skeletal muscle morphology in response to both acute and chronic resistance exercise, but little is known on how muscle stiffness changes via ultrasound elastography, which was the purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods The online data bases of Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of...

There are currently many different approaches to performing exergames and there is still no consensus as to whether exergames are able to reduce anxiety levels, as well as whether exergames provide greater reductions on anxiety levels when added to traditional forms of clinical interventions. Therefore, the aim of the present systematic review and...

The purpose was to understand how wider cuffs, covering larger portions of the limb, may affect acute muscle swelling when used during low‐load knee extension exercise with blood flow restriction. A total of 96 individuals (53 females and 43 males) completed two visits, with visit one used for measuring maximal strength and arterial occlusion press...

It is suggested that changes in echo-intensity (EI) measured through ultrasound can detect muscle swelling. However, changes in EI have never been examined relative to a non-exercise control following naïve exposure to exercise. Purpose: Examine the changes in muscle thickness (MT), EI and isometric strength (ISO) before, immediately after, and 2...

It is commonly stated that individuals respond differently to exercise even when the same exercise intervention is performed. This has led many researchers to conduct exercise interventions and subsequently categorize individuals into different responder categories to determine what causes individuals to respond differently. Some methods by which d...

Although often used as a surrogate, comparisons between traditional blood pressure measurements and limb occlusion assessed via hand-held Doppler have yet to be completed. Using limb occlusion pressure as a method of assessing systolic pressure is of interest to those studying the acute effects of blood flow restriction, where the removal of the cu...

Previous studies proposed calf circumference cutoff values for predicting dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-derived low muscle mass. However, DXA-derived appendicular lean mass (aLM) includes non-skeletal muscle components such as the appendicular fat-free component of adipose tissue fat cells (aFFAT). The purpose of this study was to compare...

Objectives To examine the absolute and relative skeletal muscle mass (SM) in female athletes and to discuss the potential upper limit of whole‐body muscle mass between large sized female and male athletes. Methods Forty‐five female athletes and forty‐five recreationally active females (control) had muscle thickness measured by ultrasound at nine s...

The periodization of resistance exercise is often touted as the most effective strategy for optimizing muscle size and strength adaptations. This narrative persists despite a lack of experimental evidence to demonstrate its superiority. In addition, the general adaptation syndrome, which provides the theoretical framework underlying periodization,...

Gastric surgery-induced body fat loss automatically reduces fat-free mass (FFM) by changing the fat-free component of adipose tissue. A recent study first reported a change in fat fraction percentage of adipose tissue during gastric bypass surgery-induced weight loss, using chemical shift-based water/fat separation method. Our proposed models showe...

The objective of this study was to determine differences in 2 distinct resistance training protocols and if true variability can be detected after accounting for random error. Individuals (n = 151) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: (i) a traditional exercise group performing 4 sets to failure; (ii) a group performing a 1-repetition maximum (...

Context: The perceived tightness scale is suggested to be an effective method for setting subocclusive pressures with practical blood flow restriction. However, the reliability of this scale is unknown and is important as the reliability will ultimately dictate the usefulness of this method. Objective: To determine the reliability of the perceiv...

Low-load exercise performed to or near task failure appears to result in similar skeletal muscle adaptations as low-load exercise with the addition of blood flow restriction (BFR). However, there may be a point where the training load becomes too low to stimulate an anabolic response without BFR. This study examined skeletal muscle adaptions to ver...

The purpose of this paper was to use a Bayesian approach to compare the relative change in muscle size between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound measured muscle thickness (MTH) following 6 weeks of concentric and eccentric blood flow restricted exercise. Changes at each site were as follows: concentric 50% site (MRI: 10.2%, MTH: 8.7%)...

The purpose was to examine changes in the perceptual responses to lifting a very low load (15% one repetition maximum (1RM)) with and without (15/0) different pressures [40% (15/40) and 80% (15/80) arterial occlusion pressure] and compare that to traditional high load (70/0) resistance exercise. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and discomfort we...

Objectives: To clarify what information is provided from non-significant findings and explain possible additional/alternative tests to help make these findings more informative. Design & Methods: The design of this manuscript was to first clarify what information is provided from non-significant find ings and detail why this may be different than w...

The purpose of this study was to compare the acute muscular response with resistance exercise between the following conditions [labeled (% one-repetition maximum/% arterial occlusion pressure)]: high-load (70/0), very low-load (15/0), very low-load with moderate (15/40), and high (15/80) blood flow restriction pressures. Twenty-three participants c...

It is generally believed that more muscle mass in the lower body reflects more muscular strength and power. If true, greater ground reaction forces may be facilitated from increasing muscle mass, which may result in higher maximal running speeds. One method to assess the potential contributions of body composition (i.e. muscle mass and fat mass) to...

Objective: To investigate the influence of cuff width, sex, and applied pressure on the perceived discomfort associated with blood flow restriction at rest and following exercise. Approach: Experiment 1 (n = 96) consisted of four sets of biceps exercise to failure with a narrow and wide cuff inflated to the same relative pressure. Experiment 2 (...

The purpose was to determine if the muscle swelling, echo intensity, and fatigue responses to blood flow restriction differs based on cuff width (Experiment 1), applied pressure (Experiment 2), and sex. Ultrasound of muscle was taken before and after exercise. In Experiment 1 (n = 96), men swelled more than women and more with a narrow cuff than a...

Objective: To investigate vascular adaptations to eight weeks of resistance exercise, with and without different pressures of blood flow restriction (BFR), in the upper and lower body. Approach: Forty individuals (men=20, women=20) completed eight weeks of resistance exercise at very low loads (15% of one-repetition maximum (1RM)), with two leve...

Purpose of Review The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the magnitude of systematic bias (mean difference) and random error (standard deviation of mean difference) between the cuff method of indirect blood pressure and directly measured intra-arterial pressure. Recent Findings Blood pressure is almost exclusively assessed using the indi...

Skeletal muscle hypertrophy commonly occurs with repeated bouts of resistance exercise as well as following the administration of exogenous drugs. This increase in muscle size is thought to be mechanistically important for the increase in muscle function. However, at present, there is no experimental evidence that would support any paradigm in whic...

Fat‐free mass or lean tissue mass includes nonskeletal muscle components such as the fat‐free component of adipose tissue fat cells. This fat‐free component of adipose tissue may need to be taken into consideration when large changes in body fat occur following a weight loss intervention. It is not uncommon to see a loss of lean mass with intervent...

Purpose Considerable debate exists as to whether increases in strength that occur with resistance exercise are the result of increases in muscle size. Most studies have attempted to answer this question using assessments of whole muscle size and voluntary muscle strength, but examining changes at the individual muscle fiber level may also provide s...

Blood flow restriction training using a practical (non‐pneumatic) elastic‐cuff has recently increased in popularity. However, a criticism of this method is that the pressure applied and the amount of blood flow restriction induced is unknown. The aim was to quantify blood flow following the application of an elastic‐cuff and compare that to what is...