Key result
Blood flow restriction training substantially improves athletes' isokinetic strength and physical fitness versus unrestricted training.
Why the study?
The effect of blood flow restriction training on the physical fitness and overall quality of athletes remained unclear.
Does blood flow restriction training improve physical fitness parameters in healthy athletes?
Meta-Analysis (n=542)
Does blood flow restriction training improve physical fitness parameters in healthy athletes?
Blood flow restriction training significantly improves strength, power, speed, endurance, and body composition in healthy athletes compared to training without blood flow restriction.
Supports BFRT in athlete training programs to enhance strength and fitness; extends prior evidence via pooled meta-analysis effects.
Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) is an effective, scientific and safe training method, but its effect on the overall quality of athletes remains unclear. The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to clarify the effects of BFRT on the physical fitness among athletes. Based on the PRISMA guidelines, searches were performed in PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and SCOUPS, the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool was used to assess methodological quality, and RevMan 5.4 and STATA 15.0 software were used to analyze the data. A meta-analysis of 28 studies with a total sample size of 542 athletes aged 14-26 years and assessed as low risk for quality was performed. Our results revealed that the BFRT intervention had small to large improvements in the athletes' strength (ES = 0.74-1.03), power (ES = 0.46), speed (ES = 0.54), endurance (ES = 1.39-1.40), body composition (ES = 0.28-1.23), while there was no significant effect on body mass (p > 0.05). Subgroup analyses revealed that moderator variables (training duration, frequency, load, cuff pressure, and pressurization time) also had varying degrees of effect on athletes' physical fitness parameters. In conclusion, BFRT had a positive effect on the physical fitness parameters of the athletes, with significantly improved strength, power, speed, endurance and body composition, but not body mass parameters. When the training frequency ≥ 3 times/week, cuff pressure ≥ 160 mmHg, and pressurization time ≥ 10 min, the BFRT group was more favorable for the improvement of physical fitness parameters.
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Yang et al. (2024) conducted a meta-analysis in Healthy athletes (n=542). Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) vs. Training without blood flow restriction was evaluated on Isokinetic strength (SMD 1.03, 95% CI 0.77-1.28, p=<0.001). Blood flow restriction training significantly improved athletes' isokinetic strength (SMD 1.03) and other physical fitness parameters compared to training without blood flow restriction.
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