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Local, proximal, and distal effects of resistance training with blood flow restriction on strength and size of upper limb muscles in healthy individuals: A systematic review.

Journal of bodywork and movement therapies
October 1, 2024
Wellington Dos Santos Lima Júnior et al. (7 authors)
Journal ArticleSystematic ReviewReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the local, proximal, and distal effects of resistance training with blood flow restriction (BFR) on the strength and size of upper limb muscles in healthy individuals.

Results Summary

The study found that resistance training with BFR, whether using high or low loads, generally resulted in greater gains in muscle strength and size compared to resistance training without BFR. However, caution is advised due to high heterogeneity in study methods.

Population

Healthy individuals

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

≥4 weeks

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (3)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Resistance training with blood flow restriction (BFR)
increase
muscle strength and size
-
-
can promote gains
#1
Resistance training with blood flow restriction (BFR)
increase
muscle size and strength
healthy individuals
-
provided greater local, proximal, and/or distal gains
#2
Resistance training with blood flow restriction (BFR)
increase
strength and size of upper limb muscles
healthy individuals
-
can increase
#3
Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Resistance training with blood flow restriction (BFR) can promote gains in muscle strength and size using low-load protocols. OBJECTIVE: To gather the evidence on local, proximal, and distal effects of resistance training with BFR on the strength and size of upper limb muscles in healthy individuals. METHODS: Searches were performed in CENTRAL, PEDro, MEDLINE, SciELO, SCOPUS, and Science Direct databases from inception to March 2023. Clinical trials that compared the effects of resistance training with and without BFR (≥4 weeks) on the strength and size of upper limb muscles in healthy individuals were included. Data related to studies' participants, BFR techniques, resistance training protocols, outcomes and assessment measures, and main results were collected. The risk of bias and quality of evidence was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Analysis Tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, respectively. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies with a low-high risk of bias and a very-low-to-high quality were included in this review. In general, findings suggest that either high- or low-load resistance training with BFR provided greater local, proximal, and/or distal gains in muscle size and strength compared to resistance training without BFR. CONCLUSIONS: Resistance training with BFR can increase the strength and size of upper limb muscles in healthy individuals. Caution must be taken when interpreting and generalizing the results gathered in this review high heterogeneity of the included studies' methods.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansResistance TrainingMuscle StrengthUpper ExtremityMuscle, SkeletalRegional Blood FlowBlood Flow Restriction Therapy
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality75/10
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score2.34
Normalized Score0.69
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