Impact of Blood-Flow-Restricted Training on Arterial Functions and Angiogenesis—A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Figure 1. PRISMA flow diagram of the study.

Figure 2. Forest plot describing the effects of BFR exercise on FMD values (post—measured immediately after exercise, detrain—measured up to 1 h after exercise, LI—low-intensity BFR exercise, HI—high-intensity BFR exercise). Beak 2022 [3], Early 2020 [36], Hunt 2012 [37], Kambic 2019 [31], Kramis 2020 [38], Tangchaisuriya 2022 [39], Yasuda 2015 (post/detrain) [40], Yasuda 2015 (tJoG) [41].

Figure 3. Forest plot describing the effects of BFR exercise on PWV values (LI—low-intensity BFR exercise, HI—high-intensity BFR exercise). Beak 2022 [3], Clark 2011 [49], Credeur 2019 [44], Fahs 2014 [50], Tangchaisuriya 2022 [39].

Figure 4. Forest plot describing the effects of BFR exercise on serum VEGF values (4 h—measured 4 h after exercise, 24 h—measured 24 h after exercise, 10 min—measured 10 min after exercise, 30 min—measured 30 min after exercise, LI—low-intensity BFR exercise, HI—high-intensity BFR exercise). Larkin 2012 [52], Shimizu 2016 [42], Takano 2005 [27], Tangchaisuriya 2022 [39].

Figure 5. Forest plot describing the effects of BFR exercise on ABI values (post—measured immediately after exercise, detrain—measured up to 1 h after exercise, LI—low-intensity BFR exercise, HI—high-intensity BFR exercise). Beak 2022 [3], Clark 2011 [49], Renzi 2010 [34], Yasuda 2015 (post/detrain) [40], Yasuda 2015 (tJoG) [41], Yasuda 2016 [46].

Figure 6. Forest plot describing the effects of BFR exercise on systolic blood pressure values (LI—low-intensity BFR exercise, HI—high-intensity BFR exercise, 15 min—measured 15 min after exercise, 45 min—measured 45 min after exercise, elastic—elastic band used for BFR induction, rigid—rigid band used for BFR induction, 65%SBP—pressure in BFR cuffs equals 65% of the systolic blood pressure, 130%SBP—pressure in BFR cuffs equals 130% of the systolic blood pressure). Beak 2022 [3], Credeur 2019 [44], Fahs 2011 [48], Kambic 2019 [31], Pinto 2015 [30], Renzi 2010 [34], Shimizu 2016 [42], Stray-Gundersen 2020 [35], Takano 2005 [27], Tangchaisuriya 2022 [39], Yasuda 2015 (post/detrain) [40], Yasuda 2015 (tJoG) [41], Yasuda 2016 [46], Zhao 2020 [55].

Figure 7. Forest plot describing the effects of BFR exercise on heart rate values (LI—low-intensity BFR exercise, HI—high-intensity BFR exercise, 15 min—measured 15 min after exercise, 45 min—measured 45 min after exercise, elastic—elastic band used for BFR induction, rigid—rigid band used for BFR induction, 65%SBP—pressure in BFR cuffs equals 65% of the systolic blood pressure, 130%SBP—pressure in BFR cuffs equals 130% of the systolic blood pressure). Credeur 2019 [44], Fahs 2011 [48], Kambic 2019 [31], Pinto 2015 [30], Renzi 2010 [34], Shimizu 2016 [42], Stray-Gundersen 2020 [35], Takano 2005 [27], Tangchaisuriya 2022 [39], Yasuda 2015 (post/detrain) [40], Yasuda 2015 (tJoG) [41], Yasuda 2016 [46], Zhao 2020 [55].