Effect of resistance training with blood flow restriction on muscle damage markers in adults: A systematic review

Abstract

Background The purpose of this review was to systematically analyze the evidence regarding the occurrence of muscle damage (changes in muscle damage markers) after resistance training with blood flow restriction sessions. Materials and methods This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA recommendations. Two researchers independently and blindly searched the following electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, LILACS and SPORTdicus. Randomized and non-randomized clinical trials which analyzed the effect of resistance training with blood flow restriction on muscle damage markers in humans were included. The risk of bias assessment was performed by two blinded and independent researchers using the RoB2 tool. Results A total of 21 studies involving 352 healthy participants (men, n = 301; women, n = 51) were eligible for this review. The samples in 66.6% of the studies (n = 14) were composed of untrained individuals. All included studies analyzed muscle damage using indirect markers. Most studies had more than one muscle damage marker and Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness was the measure most frequently used. The results for the occurrence of significant changes in muscle damage markers after low-load resistance training with blood flow restriction sessions were contrasting, and the use of a pre-defined repetition scheme versus muscle failure seems to be the determining point for this divergence, mainly in untrained individuals. Conclusions In summary, the use of sets until failure is seen to be determinant for the occurrence of significant changes in muscle damage markers after low-load resistance training with blood flow restriction sessions, especially in individuals not used to resistance exercise. Trial registration Register number: PROSPERO number: CRD42020177119.