Reviewing Blood Flow Restriction Training to Build Muscle in Older Individuals
The goal of blood flow restriction training is to attempt to induce a mildly hypoxic environment in limb muscle tissue that encourages a greater response to physical activity. This approach has been assessed as a way to induce the growth of greater muscle mass in older individuals, alongside the more prevalent approach of resistance training. Here, researchers provide an overview of the literature on the topic.
In recent years, blood flow restriction training (BFRT) has garnered significant attention as an emerging therapeutic intervention. BFRT involves applying external pressure to the proximal limb using compression devices (e.g., tourniquets or inflatable cuffs) during exercise, partially restricting arterial inflow and fully occluding venous outflow. This creates an ischemic and hypoxic environment within the muscle tissue, triggering a cascade of physiological processes related to tissue adaptation. BFRT affects skeletal muscle primarily by promoting the secretion of anabolic hormones, protein synthesis, recruitment of type II muscle fibers, cellular swelling, and the generation of reactive oxygen species and their derivatives, e.g. nitric oxide (NO) and heat shock proteins (HSPs).
BFRT significantly enhances muscle strength and physical function in elderly populations by inducing muscle hypertrophy. Multiple studies confirm that BFRT achieves comparable outcomes to conventional resistance training for sarcopenia management in older adults, with superior efficacy particularly observed in strength improvement. Consequently, for elderly patients with comorbidities such as degenerative joint disorders or cardiovascular diseases, BFRT emerges as a viable alternative intervention that simultaneously mitigates injury risks associated with high-load training while achieving equivalent strength gains.