It doesn’t seem right. Enhancing muscle development with light weight is counterintuitive, but that’s something you can do when using KAATSU. Here’s why this can work.
It’s well established that training with heavy weights stimulates the production of human growth hormone which promotes gains in muscle mass. Using light weights is not associated with muscular hypertrophy. How then can you use KAATSU to grow muscles with light resistance?
The key is that using KAATSU to gently modify the venous return of blood to the heart causes the limbs to be engorged with blood. When using even light resistance in this environment, there is a higher buildup of lactic acid in the blood. The higher lactic acid levels cause the brain to release large amounts of human growth hormone and other beneficial metabolites which ultimately enhances muscle growth.
Using KAATSU and light weights also means you’re not placing as much stress on your muscles and connective tissues. You don’t have to break down and repair muscle to cause your muscles to get larger. If you think about this a different way, heavy weight training is like digging a hole before building a step. You have to fill the hole in before you can grow. Using KAATSU means you don’t dig the hole in the first place, so you can grow faster with less strain on your body.
In case you’re thinking KAATSU for muscle hypertrophy will be an easy workout, think again. You still want to do reps until muscular failure. The buildup of lactic acid in your limbs will cause discomfort while you’re doing it. A big difference is you won’t be as sore afterwards because you didn’t really damage your body while working out with light weights.
I hope this answers the question of how you can grow bigger muscles using KAATSU. If you would like more clarification, please read through the other FAQs about KAATSU, or leave a question in the comment box below.