Professor of the University of Southern Denmark presented a research

Professor Dr. Per Aagaard from the University of Southern Denmark has visited Lithuanian Sports University. He investigates muscle fatigue, injury prevention, aging and training of physical characteristics.

  In a scientific seminar at LSU, Prof. Dr. P. Aagaard delivered a lecture on the impact of trainable muscle blood flow restriction (Kaatsu methodology) on skeletal muscle adaptation. The lecturer claimed that a significant increase in the number of muscle stem (satellite) cells and their differentiation into the nuclei of muscle fibres could be noted during low intensity exercises. Moreover, muscle mass and strength increase significantly faster than during traditional strength training workouts.

   Prof. P. Aagaard discussed in detail how physical exercises affect tendons and ligaments. According to the professor, long-term and very large physical loads may damage the integrity of connective tissue, and lead to changes of tendons and ligaments similar to degeneration. However, the most effective treatment of such injuries is not by rest, medication or surgical interventions, but by strength exercises of high intensity and of quite strictly controlled volume, frequency and amplitude that intensely affect the damaged structure.