6-Weeks of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Immune Cell Function and Bioenergetics

In both groups participants will complete treadmill walking on 3 days per week for 6 weeks. During the first week participants will walk continuously for 21 minutes during each training session which will be increased to 32 minutes per training session for weeks 2-6. In both groups the treadmill speed and grade will be set to elicit 40-50% heart rate reserve. In the BFR group the cuffs will be inflated based on each participants individualized limb occlusion pressure (LOP). The cuffs will remain inflated for the entire session but will deflate for 1 min every 10 min based on safety recommendations. The percentage of LOP will progressively increase over the course of the intervention. Weeks 1 and 2 will be completed at 60% LOP, after which pressure will increase by 5% each subsequent week, corresponding to 65%, 70%, 75%, and 80% LOP during weeks 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively.