PROXIMAL EFFECTS OF BLOOD FLOW RESTRICTION TRAINING IN INDIVIDUALS WITH MUSCULOSKELETAL DYSFUNCTION: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Faculty Mentor

Fahed Mehyar

Presentation Type

Poster

Start Date

4-14-2026 9:00 AM

End Date

4-14-2026 11:00 AM

Location

PUB NCR

Primary Discipline of Presentation

Physical Therapy

Abstract

Blood-flow-restriction training (BFR) is an exercise technique that involves partially occluding blood flow to distal muscles. This has been demonstrated to stimulate growth in distal musculature. There has also been research on the proximal effects of BFR training. However, there is a lack of clarity throughout the literature on the effect of BFR on proximal musculature. The objective of this literature review is to summarize and synthesize findings regarding the proximal effect of BFR in individuals with musculoskeletal dysfunction. A literature search was conducted in CINAHL, Cochrane library, Health Source, PubMed, Scopus, and SPORTdiscuss. Keywords included “BFR,” “blood flow restriction,” “occlusion training,” or “katsu training,” and “proximal effect.” Inclusion criteria were full-text experimental studies focusing on proximal musculoskeletal effects of BFR. Posters, editorials, and non-English publications were excluded. Six randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. Study populations included individuals with patellofemoral pain syndrome (one study), low back pain (two studies), rotator cuff tendinopathy (one study), rounded shoulder posture (one study), and stress urinary incontinence (one study). Three studies showed a statistically significant increase in shoulder and trunk extensor strength compared to the control group, one showed no difference between groups, and one showed a statistically significant decrease compared to control. Current evidence does not consistently support superior proximal adaptations with BFR training compared with non-BFR exercise in individuals with musculoskeletal dysfunction. Additional research is needed to clarify the benefit given to proximal musculature from BFR training in patients with musculoskeletal dysfunction

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Apr 14th, 9:00 AM Apr 14th, 11:00 AM

PROXIMAL EFFECTS OF BLOOD FLOW RESTRICTION TRAINING IN INDIVIDUALS WITH MUSCULOSKELETAL DYSFUNCTION: A LITERATURE REVIEW

PUB NCR

Blood-flow-restriction training (BFR) is an exercise technique that involves partially occluding blood flow to distal muscles. This has been demonstrated to stimulate growth in distal musculature. There has also been research on the proximal effects of BFR training. However, there is a lack of clarity throughout the literature on the effect of BFR on proximal musculature. The objective of this literature review is to summarize and synthesize findings regarding the proximal effect of BFR in individuals with musculoskeletal dysfunction. A literature search was conducted in CINAHL, Cochrane library, Health Source, PubMed, Scopus, and SPORTdiscuss. Keywords included “BFR,” “blood flow restriction,” “occlusion training,” or “katsu training,” and “proximal effect.” Inclusion criteria were full-text experimental studies focusing on proximal musculoskeletal effects of BFR. Posters, editorials, and non-English publications were excluded. Six randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. Study populations included individuals with patellofemoral pain syndrome (one study), low back pain (two studies), rotator cuff tendinopathy (one study), rounded shoulder posture (one study), and stress urinary incontinence (one study). Three studies showed a statistically significant increase in shoulder and trunk extensor strength compared to the control group, one showed no difference between groups, and one showed a statistically significant decrease compared to control. Current evidence does not consistently support superior proximal adaptations with BFR training compared with non-BFR exercise in individuals with musculoskeletal dysfunction. Additional research is needed to clarify the benefit given to proximal musculature from BFR training in patients with musculoskeletal dysfunction