BLOOD FLOW RESTRICTION AND HIGH-INTENSITY TRAINING IN PATIENTS WITH ARTHRITIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE AVAILABLE EVIDENCE
Keywords:
arthritis; blood flow restriction; resistance training; pain; rehabilitationAbstract
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46296/gt.v9i18edespsep.0431
Abstract
Introduction: Arthritis can cause pain, reduced muscle strength, and functional limitations that may decrease tolerance to high-load resistance training. In this context, blood flow restriction training (BFR) represents an alternative that allows exercise to be performed with lower external loads, whereas high-intensity training remains a commonly used strategy to improve strength and function. Objective: To analyze the available evidence regarding the effects of blood flow restriction training and high-intensity training on muscle strength, function, pain, quality of life, and safety in patients with arthritis. Methods: A systematic review with narrative synthesis was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The search included publications available in Spanish from January 1, 2021, to July 30, 2026. A total of 50 records were identified and, after duplicate removal and application of the eligibility criteria, 10 articles were included and classified according to their contextual or methodological relevance to the research question. Results: The available evidence showed that low-load BFR may improve muscle strength and function while using a lower external load. High-intensity training also demonstrated favorable effects on strength and functional capacity. Pain responses were variable, whereas evidence regarding quality of life, adherence, and safety was limited. Due to study heterogeneity and the presence of indirect evidence, superiority or equivalence between the two strategies could not be established. Conclusion: BFR may be considered an alternative training strategy when high loads are poorly tolerated; however, evidence directly applicable to patients with arthritis remains insufficient. Further direct comparative studies using standardized protocols are required to evaluate strength, function, pain, quality of life, and safety.
Keywords: arthritis; blood flow restriction; resistance training; pain; rehabilitation.
Downloads
References
Allauca-Llumiquinga, M. B., Flores-Santy, L. F., & Cárdenas-Pérez, D. (2024). Efectos del entrenamiento con restricción del flujo sanguíneo sobre las extremidades superiores e inferiores en pacientes postquirúrgicos: Una revisión sistemática. Cuestiones de Fisioterapia, 53(2), 149–164. https://cuestionesdefisioterapia.com/index.php/es/article/view/11
Argüello Gutiérrez, Y. P., Blanco Rodríguez, M. A., Amado Henao, A., Perdomo Molina, J. D., Lara Flórez, C. A., Rendón Nicholls, C. F., Achury Poveda, F. A., Pereira García, S., Morales Urbina, A. C., Pardo Villanueva, C. A., & Barbosa Rodríguez, J. C. (2026). Aspectos metodológicos de la restricción del flujo sanguíneo: Revisión documental. MHSalud: Revista en Ciencias del Movimiento Humano y Salud, 23(1), e21055. https://doi.org/10.15359/mhs.23-1.21055
Bahamondes-Ávila, C., Curilem Gatica, C., Bustos Medina, L., Berral de la Rosa, F. J., & Salazar, L. A. (2024). Abordaje fisioterapéutico del ejercicio con restricción parcial del flujo sanguíneo: Revisión narrativa. Retos, 58, 617–632. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v58.99878
Culqui Gaibor, P. V., Figueredo Villa, K., & Bombón Chico, J. E. (2024). Ejercicio terapéutico en la disminución del dolor en pacientes con artrosis de rodilla grado 1: Revisión sistemática. Vive Revista de Investigación en Salud, 7(19), 207–225. https://doi.org/10.33996/revistavive.v7i19.296
González Berruga, A. J., Jiménez Andreu, S., & Morell Gregori, A. (2021). Eficacia de los ejercicios acuáticos en personas con artritis reumatoide y osteoartritis: Una revisión sistemática. Revista de Investigación en Actividades Acuáticas, 5(9), 31–37. https://doi.org/10.21134/riaa.v5i9.1366
Méndez Cea, S. (2025). Beneficios del ejercicio físico en la calidad de vida en pacientes con artritis reumatoide: Una revisión de ensayos clínicos randomizados. Revista Chilena de Rehabilitación y Actividad Física, 5(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.32457/reaf1.3364
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Pombo-Blanco, C., González-González, Y., Alonso-Calvete, A., & Da Cuña-Carrera, I. (2022). Uso terapéutico del método de restricción de flujo sanguíneo para la mejora de la fuerza muscular: Una revisión sistemática. Fisioterapia, 44(5), 304–317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ft.2021.11.001
Reyes Reyes, P. C. (2023). Restricción parcial de flujo sanguíneo con resistencia, fundamento fisiológico y metodología de entrenamiento. PODIUM: Revista de Ciencia y Tecnología en la Cultura Física, 18(1), e1208. https://podium.upr.edu.cu/index.php/podium/article/view/1208
Ubieta-García, A., Justo-Cousiño, L. A., & Santiago-Pescador, S. (2023). Restricción de flujo sanguíneo en la rehabilitación del ligamento cruzado anterior. Revista Cubana de Ortopedia y Traumatología, 37(1), e576. https://revortopedia.sld.cu/index.php/revortopedia/article/view/576
Villalba, F. J. (2022). Entrenamiento con restricción al flujo sanguíneo. Argentinian Journal of Respiratory & Physical Therapy, 4(1), 52–56. https://doi.org/10.58172/ajrpt.v4i1.215
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2026 GESTAR Arbitrated Scientific Journal in Health Research. ISSN: 2737-6273.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
