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Int J Sports Med
DOI: 10.1055/a-2240-7659
Review

Effect of Aerobic Training with Blood Flow Restriction on Strength and Hypertrophy: A Meta-analysis

Carlos Alberto Toledo Teixeira Filho 
1   Postgraduate program in Movement Sciences
,
Eduardo Pizzo Junior 
1   Postgraduate program in Movement Sciences
,
Julia Waszczuk Vendrame
1   Postgraduate program in Movement Sciences
,
Gabriel Martins Da Silva
1   Postgraduate program in Movement Sciences
,
Allysie Priscilla de Souza Cavina
2   Postgraduate program in Physiotherapy
,
Leonardo Kesrouani Lemos
2   Postgraduate program in Physiotherapy
,
Franciele Marques Vanderlei
1   Postgraduate program in Movement Sciences
3   Postgraduate program in Movement Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, Universidade Estadual Paulista (FCT - UNESP), Presidente Prudente, São Paulo - Brazil
› Author Affiliations Funding Information Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo — http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001807; 2020/13143–8
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Abstract

The objective of this meta-analysis is to compare the effects on muscle strength and hypertrophy of low and high-intensity aerobic training with BFR (LI-BFR and HI-BFR) versus low and high-intensity aerobic training without BFR (LI and HI). The search was performed in five databases, by two independent researchers, and the terms and keywords used to optimize the searches were related to blood flow restriction and aerobic training. All studies were evaluated for methodological quality using the PEDro scale and for quality of evidence using the GRADE system. Meta-analyses were conducted using RevMan software. After data extraction, 11 studies met all eligibility criteria and were included in the systematic review. The results of the overall analysis between LI-BFR vs. LI showed a significant difference in muscle strength of knee extensors; for hypertrophy, LI was superior to LI-BFR with clinical relevance. Comparing HI-BFR vs. HI there was no superiority for muscle strength. In conclusion, for strength gains very low-quality evidence was found to support no superiority between LI-BFR and HI-BFR compared to LI and HI, respectively. For muscle hypertrophy, superiority of LI was found compared to LI-BFR, with a very low level of evidence.

Keywords

vascular occlusion - aerobic exercise - strength - meta-analysis

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 14 June 2023

Accepted: 04 January 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
08 January 2024

Article published online:
28 March 2024

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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