Effects of Low-Load Blood Flow Restriction Training on Muscle Anabolism Biomarkers and Thrombotic Biomarkers Compared with Traditional Training in Healthy Adults Older Than 60 Years: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the effects of low-load blood flow restriction training (LL-BFRT) on muscle anabolism and thrombotic biomarkers compared with the effects of traditional LL training and to analyse the changes in these biomarkers in the short and medium term (acute/immediate and after at least 4 weeks of the training programme, respectively). A search was conducted in the following electronic databases from inception to 1 March 2024: MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Web of Science, PEDro, Science Direct, CINHAL, and Scopus. A total of 13 randomized controlled trials were included, with a total of 256 healthy older adults (mean (min–max) age 68 (62–71) years, 44.53% female). The outcome measures were muscle anabolism biomarkers and thrombosis biomarkers. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated to compare the outcomes reported by the studies. The overall meta-analysis showed that LL-BFRT produces a large increase in muscle anabolism biomarkers compared with traditional LL training (eight studies; SMD = 0.88 [0.39; 1.37]) and compared with a passive control (four studies; SMD = 0.91 [0.54; 1.29]). LL-BFRT does not produce an increase in thrombotic biomarkers compared with traditional LL training (four studies; SMD = −0.02 [−0.41; 0.36]) or compared with a passive control (two studies; SMD = 0.20 [−0.41; 0.80]). The increase in muscle anabolism biomarkers was large after applying a single session (four studies; SMD = 1.29 [0.18; 2.41]) and moderate after applying a training programme (four studies; SMD = 0.58 [0.09; 1.06]). In conclusion, LL-BFRT increases muscle anabolism biomarkers to a greater extent than traditional LL training (low-quality evidence) or a passive control (moderate-quality evidence) in healthy older adults. This superior anabolic potential of LL-BFRT compared with LL training is sustained in the short to medium term. LL-BFRT is a safe training methodology for older adults, showing moderate-quality evidence of no increase in thrombotic biomarkers compared with traditional LL training.