The Effectiveness of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Upper Extremity Muscle Strength: a Systematic Review

Abstract

Objective This systematic review aims to investigate the effect of blood flow restriction training (BFRT) on upper extremity muscle strength in pathological conditions of the upper extremity musculoskeletal system or in healthy individuals. Materials and Methods This study was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guideline statement. The randomized controlled studies which published from January 2000 to May 2022 were searched in the PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases. Inclusion criteria were healthy clinical population or musculoskeletal pathology related to the upper extremity, participants aged 18 and above, application of blood flow restriction to the arm, a randomized controlled study design, and publication in English. Additionally, the presentation of upper extremity muscle strength as an outcome measurement was required. The quality of the studies was evaluated using The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Articles that were non-randomized, inaccessible in full text, and scored 4 or below on the PEDro scale were excluded. Results Five studies were included with 219 participants. The included studies had PEDro scores ranging from 5 to 8, with an average score of 6.4. This review demonstrated a positive or neutral effect of BFRT on grip strength and shoulder strength. Conclusion Although some studies have reported positive effects of BFRT on upper extremity muscle strength, there is no conclusive evidence regarding the protocol to be used for increasing upper extremity muscle strength.