PROXIMAL MUSCULAR EFFECTS OF BLOOD FLOW RESTRICTION TRAINING IN HEALTHY ADULTS: 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 (BFR) training is known to improve distal muscle strength and hypertrophy during low-load exercise; however, its proximal or remote effects in healthy individuals are not well established. The purpose of this review was to synthesize the available evidence on proximal muscular adaptations following BFR training in healthy populations. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Health Source, and SPORTDiscus using the terms “blood flow restriction,” “occlusion training,” or “KAATSU training” combined with “proximal effect.” Full-text experimental studies involving healthy participants that reported proximal muscle outcomes (strength, endurance, activation, or hypertrophy) after upper- or lower-extremity BFR training were included.Articles cited within prior review papers were also screened. Exclusion criteria included review articles, editorials, conference abstracts, non-English publications, and studies that did not evaluate proximal outcomes. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria, including six randomized controlled trials and one crossover study. Sample sizes were small to moderate, ranging from 5 to 46 participants, and intervention durations varied from two sessions to eight weeks. Compared with control conditions, four studies demonstrated significant improvements in proximal muscle strength, hypertrophy, or activation with BFR training (p < 0.05), whereas three studies found no significant proximal effects on strength or hypertrophy. Studies employing higher occlusion pressures tended to report greater proximal adaptations.In healthy adults, most of the included studies support a proximal effect of BFR training on muscle strength and activity, even when exercises primarily target distal segments. Proximal hypertrophy appears inconsistent and less robust than strength gains, suggesting predominantly neurogenic mechanisms.
Recommended Citation
Scarcello, Kyle and Larson, Casey, "PROXIMAL MUSCULAR EFFECTS OF BLOOD FLOW RESTRICTION TRAINING IN HEALTHY ADULTS: A LITERATURE REVIEW" (2026). 2026 Symposium. 6.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2026/ps_2026/p1_2026/6
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
PROXIMAL MUSCULAR EFFECTS OF BLOOD FLOW RESTRICTION TRAINING IN HEALTHY ADULTS: A LITERATURE REVIEW
PUB NCR
Blood flow restriction (BFR) training is known to improve distal muscle strength and hypertrophy during low-load exercise; however, its proximal or remote effects in healthy individuals are not well established. The purpose of this review was to synthesize the available evidence on proximal muscular adaptations following BFR training in healthy populations. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Health Source, and SPORTDiscus using the terms “blood flow restriction,” “occlusion training,” or “KAATSU training” combined with “proximal effect.” Full-text experimental studies involving healthy participants that reported proximal muscle outcomes (strength, endurance, activation, or hypertrophy) after upper- or lower-extremity BFR training were included.Articles cited within prior review papers were also screened. Exclusion criteria included review articles, editorials, conference abstracts, non-English publications, and studies that did not evaluate proximal outcomes. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria, including six randomized controlled trials and one crossover study. Sample sizes were small to moderate, ranging from 5 to 46 participants, and intervention durations varied from two sessions to eight weeks. Compared with control conditions, four studies demonstrated significant improvements in proximal muscle strength, hypertrophy, or activation with BFR training (p < 0.05), whereas three studies found no significant proximal effects on strength or hypertrophy. Studies employing higher occlusion pressures tended to report greater proximal adaptations.In healthy adults, most of the included studies support a proximal effect of BFR training on muscle strength and activity, even when exercises primarily target distal segments. Proximal hypertrophy appears inconsistent and less robust than strength gains, suggesting predominantly neurogenic mechanisms.
