scholarly journals The effects of blood flow restriction exercise on vascular function in the elderly: A systematic review

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amorim S ◽  
Alexandra PGaspar ◽  
Hans Degens ◽  
Luciana DNJ de Matos
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Vascular Function ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Blood Flow Restriction ◽  
Flow Restriction

scholarly journals Effects of exercise training with blood flow restriction on vascular function in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11554
Author(s):  
Elisio A. Pereira-Neto ◽  
Hayley Lewthwaite ◽  
Terry Boyle ◽  
Kylie Johnston ◽  
Hunter Bennett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Endothelial Function ◽  
Vascular Function ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Blood Flow Restriction ◽  
Flow Restriction ◽  
Meta Regression

Background Blood flow restricted exercise (BFRE) improves physical fitness, with theorized positive effects on vascular function. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to report (1) the effects of BFRE on vascular function in adults with or without chronic health conditions, and (2) adverse events and adherence reported for BFRE. Methodology Five electronic databases were searched by two researchers independently to identify studies reporting vascular outcomes following BFRE in adults with and without chronic conditions. When sufficient data were provided, meta-analysis and exploratory meta-regression were performed. Results Twenty-six studies were included in the review (total participants n = 472; n = 41 older adults with chronic conditions). Meta-analysis (k = 9 studies) indicated that compared to exercise without blood flow restriction, resistance training with blood flow restriction resulted in significantly greater effects on endothelial function (SMD 0.76; 95% CI [0.36–1.14]). No significant differences were estimated for changes in vascular structure (SMD −0.24; 95% CI [−1.08 to 0.59]). In exploratory meta-regression analyses, several experimental protocol factors (design, exercise modality, exercised limbs, intervention length and number of sets per exercise) were significantly associated with the effect size for endothelial function outcomes. Adverse events in BFRE studies were rarely reported. Conclusion There is limited evidence, predominantly available in healthy young adults, on the effect of BFRE on vascular function. Signals pointing to effect of specific dynamic resistance exercise protocols with blood flow restriction (≥4 weeks with exercises for the upper and lower limbs) on endothelial function warrant further investigation.

scholarly journals Clinical safety of blood flow-restricted training? A comprehensive review of altered muscle metaboreflex in cardiovascular disease during ischemic exercise

2020 ◽  
Vol 318 (1) ◽  
pp. H90-H109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Cristina-Oliveira ◽  
Kamila Meireles ◽  
Marty D. Spranger ◽  
Donal S. O’Leary ◽  
Hamilton Roschel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Muscle Blood Flow ◽  
Cardiovascular Responses ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Blood Flow Restriction ◽  
Present Review ◽  
Clinical Safety ◽  
Muscle Metaboreflex ◽  
Flow Restriction

Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) is an increasingly widespread method of exercise that involves imposed restriction of blood flow to the exercising muscle. Blood flow restriction is achieved by inflating a pneumatic pressure cuff (or a tourniquet) positioned proximal to the exercising muscle before, and during, the bout of exercise (i.e., ischemic exercise). Low-intensity BFRT with resistance training promotes comparable increases in muscle mass and strength observed during high-intensity exercise without blood flow restriction. BFRT has expanded into the clinical research setting as a potential therapeutic approach to treat functionally impaired individuals, such as the elderly, and patients with orthopedic and cardiovascular disease/conditions. However, questions regarding the safety of BFRT must be fully examined and addressed before the implementation of this exercise methodology in the clinical setting. In this respect, there is a general concern that BFRT may generate abnormal reflex-mediated cardiovascular responses. Indeed, the muscle metaboreflex is an ischemia-induced, sympathoexcitatory pressor reflex originating in skeletal muscle, and the present review synthesizes evidence that BFRT may elicit abnormal cardiovascular responses resulting from increased metaboreflex activation. Importantly, abnormal cardiovascular responses are more clearly evidenced in populations with increased cardiovascular risk (e.g., elderly and individuals with cardiovascular disease). The evidence provided in the present review draws into question the cardiovascular safety of BFRT, which clearly needs to be further investigated in future studies. This information will be paramount for the consideration of BFRT exercise implementation in clinical populations.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document