. 2022 Jan 20;19(3):1160. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19031160

Table 1.

Study characteristics.

Author	Size	Age	Pressure of Cuff	Interventions	Frequency of Sessions	Development Interventions	Pathology
Ampomah et al. [41]	n= 30 CON: 16 BFR: 14	CON: 29.9 ± 9.9		CON: Isometric ex.	2 ss/w Time: 10 w	CON: Workout 25% MVIC, 3 s to task failure (leg extension, plantar flexion and elbow flexion), 30–60 s rest + 3 s (trunk extension), 25% MVIC, 15 reps.	Recurrent Nonspecific Low Back Pain
Ampomah et al. [41]	n= 30 CON: 16 BFR: 14	BFR: 28.4 ± 9.2	Increase until full restriction and decrease until capillary refill during 2–3 s.	BFR: CON + BFR.	2 ss/w Time: 10 w	BFR: CON + BFR.	Recurrent Nonspecific Low Back Pain
Barbalho et al. [34]	n = 20 * CON: 20 BFR: 20	CON: 66 ± 4.3		CON: Passive mobilizations.	1 ss/day Av. d hospital: 11 ± 2.2	CON: Passive mobilizations in flexion-extension of lower body, 3 s × 15 reps (2 s in flexion and in extension).	Elderly Coma Patients
Barbalho et al. [34]	n = 20 * CON: 20 BFR: 20	BFR: 66 ± 4.3	80% arterial systolic	BFR: CON + BFR.	1 ss/day Av. d hospital: 11 ± 2.2	BFR: CON + BFR.	Elderly Coma Patients
Barbosa et al. [43]	n = 26 CON: 14 BFR: 12	CON: 60.14 ± 10.67		CON: Strength training with cuff deflated.	Hospital: 2 ss/w Home: 3 ss/w Time: 8 w	CON: Tennis ball squeeze (6 s, 10 reps, 1 min rest, +5 reps/2 w), Elbow flexion (3 s, 10 reps, 1 kg weeks 1 and 2, 2 kg weeks 3 and 4, 3 kg last weeks), Handgrip exercise (3 s, 20 reps, 40% 1RM). 2 min rest/ex.	Chronic Kidney Disease
Barbosa et al. [43]	n = 26 CON: 14 BFR: 12	BFR: 61.33 ± 7.82	50% arterial systolic pressure.	BFR: CON + BFR	Hospital: 2 ss/w Home: 3 ss/w Time: 8 w	BFR: CON + BFR.	Chronic Kidney Disease
Ferraz et al. [44]	n = 48 EG₁: 16 EG₂: 16 BFR: 16	EG₁: 59.9 ± 4		EG₁: High-intensity workout	20 min/ss 2 ss/w Time: 12 w	EG₁: 1 week (4 s, 10 reps, 50% 1RM), 2 week (4 s, 10 reps, 80% 1RM), 5 week (5 s, 10 reps, 80% 1RM).	Knee Osteoarthritis
		EG₂: 60.7 ± 4		EG₂: Low-intensity workout		EG₂: 1 week (4 s, 15 reps, 25% 1RM), 2 week (4 s, 15 reps, 30% 1RM), 5 week (5 s, 15 reps, 30% 1RM)
		BFR: 60.3 ± 3	70% Full BFR	BFR: EG₂ + BFR.		BFR: EG₂ + BFR.
		BFR: 25 ± 2.2	50% Full BFR	BFR: External rotation on side-lying + BFR.		BFR: CON + BFR (8 min max occlusion).
Cardoso et al. [42]	n = 66 CON: 22 EG₁: 22 BFR: 22	CON: 48.2 ± 13.6		CON: Usual care	3 ss/w Time: 12 w	CON: Usual care pathology in patients.	End-Stage Renal Disease
		EG₁: 59.8 ± 16.1		EG₁: Aerobic ex. (bicycle ergometer)		EG₁: 1 Week (60–63% HR, 11–12 Börg scale), 7 Week (64–67% HR, 12–13 Börg scale).
		BFR: 49.4 ± 15.9	50% Full BFR	BFR: EG₁ + BFR		BFR: EG₁ + BFR
Chen et al. [45]	n = 55 EG₁: 19 BFR: 18 EG₂: 18	EG₁: 62.84 ± 5.54		EG₁: Isometric ex. + EG₂	EG₁: 2 ss/d, 5 d/w	EG₁: Isometric ex. upper body 40–50% MVC (10 reps-1 min, 1 min rest) + EG₂.	Coronary Heart Disease
		BFR: 64.44 ± 8.28	3 min cuff inflation-induced ischemia and 5 min deflation.	BFR: Cuff inflation training + EG₂	BFR: 3 ss/d, 5 d/w	BFR: 3 min cuff-inflation-induced ischemia and 5 min deflation in both upper limbs alternatively + EG₂.
		EG₂: 65.89 ± 5.51		EG₂: Medication	EG₂: Every day	EG₂: Conventional drug treatment.
					Time: 3 m
Corrêa et al. [46]	n= 90 CON: 30 EG₁: 30 BFR: 30	CON: 57 ± 6		CON: Daily activities	3 ss/w Time: 6 m (3 mesocycles) Mesocycle = 2 m	CON: Daily activities	Stage two of Chronic Kidney Disease
		EG₁: 58 ± 9		EG₁: Resistance training		EG₁: 3 s, 12 rep, 50% 1RM (1° mesocycle); 3 s, 10 rep, 60% 1RM (2° mesocycle); 3 s, 8, 70% 1RM (3° mesocycle)
		BFR: 60 ± 8	50% systolic blood pressure	BFR: EG₁ + BFR		BFR: 3 s, 12 rep, 30% 1RM (1° mesocycle); 3 s, 40 rep, 60% 1RM (2° mesocycle); 3 s, 8, 50% 1RM (3° mesocycle) + BFR
Curran et al. [36]	n = 34 EG₁: 8 EG₂: 8 BFR: 9 EG₃: 9	EG₁: 16.1 ± 2.6		EG₁: Concentrics.	2 ss/w Time: 8 ws	EG₁: 1 s 20% 1RM (PC) + 4 s leg press 70% 1RM concentric—20% 1RM eccentric.	Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
		EG₂: 18.8 ± 3.9		EG₂: Eccentrics.		EG₂: PC + 4 s leg press 20% 1RM concentric—70% 1RM eccentric.
		BFR: 15.3 ± 0.9	80% Full BFR	BFR: Concentrics + BFR		BFR: PC + 4 s leg press 70% 1RM concentric—20% 1RM eccentric + BFR.
		EG₃: 16.0 ± 1.7	80% Full BFR	EG₃: Eccentrics + BFR		EG₃: PC + 4 s leg press 20% 1RM concentric—70% 1RM eccentric + BFR.
Giles et al. [35]	n = 79 EG₁: 39 BFR: 40	EG₁: 26.7 ± 5.5		EG₁: Strength training	Trt: 3 ss/w, 8 w (6 individual ss/1–3 w) F/U: 16 w	EG1: 5 min bicycle, leg press 0°–60° and knee extension 45°–90°; VAS + 2/10 > ↓ 20% load (PC) + 3 s, 7–10 reps, 70% 1RM, placebo BFR (2 fingers skin/cuff)	Patellofemoral Pain
Giles et al. [35]	n = 79 EG₁: 39 BFR: 40	BFR: 28.5 ± 5.2	60% Full BFR	BFR: EG₁ + BFR	Trt: 3 ss/w, 8 w (6 individual ss/1–3 w) F/U: 16 w	BFR: PC + 1 set (30 reps or volitive fatigue), 3 s (15 reps), 30% 1RM, 30 s rest.	Patellofemoral Pain
Harper et al. [39]	n= 35 EG₁: 19 BFR: 16	EG₁: 69.1 ± 7.1		EG₁: Moderate-resistance training	3 ss/w Time: 12 w	EG₁: wmup + leg press, leg extension, leg curl and calf flexion at 60% 1RM + Flexibility-Balance ex.	Knee Osteoarthritis
Harper et al. [39]	n= 35 EG₁: 19 BFR: 16	BFR: 67.2 ± 5.2	pressure mm Hg = 0.5 (SBP) + 2(thigh circumference) + 5	BFR: EG₁ + BFR	3 ss/w Time: 12 w	BFR: EG₁ + BFR 20% 1RM (↓ pression/s).	Knee Osteoarthritis
Hughes et al. [47]	n = 28 EG₁: 14 BFR: 14	EG₁: 29 ± 7		EG₁: High-resistance training	2 ss/w (48 h rest/ss) Time: 8 w	EG₁: 5 min bicycle no resistance and 10 reps unilateral leg press low load, 5 min rest (PC) + unilateral leg press 70% 1RM, 3 sets, 10 reps, 30 s rest.	Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Hughes et al. [47]	n = 28 EG₁: 14 BFR: 14	BFR: 29 ± 7	80% Full BFR	BFR: EG₁ + BFR	2 ss/w (48 h rest/ss) Time: 8 w	BFR: PC + EG₁ + BFR 30% 1RM, 4 s (reps: 30, 15, 15, 15).	Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Hughes et al. [48]	n = 28 EG₁: 14 BFR: 14	EG₁: 29 ± 7		EG₁: High-resistance training	2 ss/w (48 h rest/ss) Time: 8 w	EG₁: 5 min bicycle no resistance and 10 reps unilateral leg press low load, 5 min rest (PC) + unilateral leg press 70% 1RM, 3 sets, 10 reps, 30 s rest.	Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Hughes et al. [48]	n = 28 EG₁: 14 BFR: 14	BFR: 29 ± 7	80% Full BFR	BFR: EG₁ + BFR	2 ss/w (48 h rest/ss) Time: 8 w	BFR: PC + EG₁ + BFR 30% 1RM, 4 s (reps: 30, 15, 15, 15).	Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Iversen et al. [49]	n = 24 CON: 12 BFR: 12	CON: 29.8 ± 9.3		CON: Quadriceps strength ex.	2 ss/d Time: 12 d	CON: 5 s, 20 reps (isometric quadriceps > leg extension over knee roll > straight leg raises).	Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Iversen et al. [49]	n = 24 CON: 12 BFR: 12	BFR: 24.9 ± 7.4	180 mm Hg or maximal pressure tolerable.	BFR: CON + BFR	2 ss/d Time: 12 d	BFR: CON + BFR (5 min inflated, 3 min deflated + ex.).	Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Jørgensen et al. [50]	n = 22 CON: 11 BFR: 11	CON: 69.8 ± 4.8		CON: No workout.	2 ss/w Time: 12 w F/U: 12 w	CON: Nothing.	Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis
Jørgensen et al. [50]	n = 22 CON: 11 BFR: 11	BFR: 68.1 ± 6.4	110 mm Hg	BFR: Strength training + BFR.	2 ss/w Time: 12 w F/U: 12 w	BFR: leg press, knee extension, knee flexion (4 w), calf raise and dorsal flexion. 3 s × 25 reps (9 w: 4 s)	Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis
Lamberti et al. [38]	n = 22 BFR: 11 CON: 11	BFR: 54 ± 11		CON: Physiotherapy-assisted walking	2 ss/w Time: 6 w F/U: 6 w	CON: PC + 40 min physiotherapy-assisted walking, 60 m corridor. Rest: 8/10 RPE on chair.	Severe Multiple Sclerosis
Lamberti et al. [38]	n = 22 BFR: 11 CON: 11	CON: 56 ± 10	30% systolic blood pressure	BFR: Walking interval-metronome + BFR	2 ss/w Time: 6 w F/U: 6 w	BFR: 10 min warm up (PC) + 5 cycles (3 reps: 1 min work and 1 min rest. 3 min rest cycle deflated BFR) low-velocity walking (60 steps/min-metronome) + 10 min cool down and stretching CORE (PC).	Severe Multiple Sclerosis
Ogawa et al. [51]	n= 21 CON: 10 BFR: 11	CON: 66 ± 8.7		CON: Standard cardiac rehab. program	2 ss/w Time: 3 m	CON: 30 min aerobic exercise within the level of anaerobic threshold on a cycle ergometer.	Cardiac open surgery
Ogawa et al. [51]	n= 21 CON: 10 BFR: 11	BFR: 57 ± 12.2	100–(160–200) mmHg. Increase 20 mmHg/2–3 w.	BFR: BFR during Resistance training	2 ss/w Time: 3 m	BFR: Week 1–2: 1 s, 20 rep, 1, 5 s concentric–eccentric (5–10 kg leg extension, 20–30 kg leg press) > 3 s, 30 rep (=weight if Börg < 15 after ex.). Week 3: 3 s, 30 rep, 20–30% 1RM (if Börg < 15 after ex.).	Cardiac open surgery
Rodrigues et al. [52]	n = 48 EG₁: 16 BFR: 16 CON: 16	CON: 58.1 ± 5.9		CON: No workout	2 ss/w Time: 12 w	CON: Activities of daily living.	Rheumatoid Arthritis
		EG₁: 58.0 ± 6.6		EG₁: High-load workout		EG₁: Bilateral leg press and knee extension. 1 Week: 4 s, 10 reps, 50% 1RM; 2 Week: 4 s, 10 reps, 70% 1RM; 5 Week: 5 s, 10 reps, 70% 1RM.
		BFR: 59.6 ± 3.9	70% Full BFR	BFR: Low-load workout + BFR		BFR: EG₁. (1 Week: 4 s, 15 reps, 20% 1RM; 2 Week: 4 s, 15 reps, 30% 1RM; 5 Week: 5 s, 15 reps, 30% 1RM)
Segal et al. [39]	n = 42 CON: 22 BFR: 20	CON: 56.1 ± 7.7		CON: Low-load workout	3 ss/w Time: 4 w F/U: 3 d	CON: Leg press 30% 1RM: 4 s (reps: 30, 15, 15, 15), 30 s rest. Rep: 2 s concentric and 2 s eccentric.	Knee Osteoarthritis
Segal et al. [39]	n = 42 CON: 22 BFR: 20	BFR: 58.4 ± 8.7	1 Week: 160 mm Hg 2 Week: 180 mm Hg 3 Week: 200 mm Hg	BFR: CON + BFR.	3 ss/w Time: 4 w F/U: 3 d	BFR: CON + BFR.	Knee Osteoarthritis
Segal et al. [40]	n = 45 CON: 24 BFR: 21	CON: 54.6 ± 6.9		CON: Low-load workout	3 ss/w Time: 4 w F/U: 3 d	CON: Leg press 30% 1RM: 4 s (reps: 30, 15, 15, 15), 30 s rest. Rep: 2 s concentric, 2 s eccentric.	Knee Osteoarthritis
Segal et al. [40]	n = 45 CON: 24 BFR: 21	BFR: 56.1 ± 5.9	1 Week: 160 mm Hg 2 Week: 180 mm Hg 3 Week: 200 mm Hg	BFR: CON + BFR.	3 ss/w Time: 4 w F/U: 3 d	BFR: CON + BFR.	Knee Osteoarthritis
Tennent et al. [53]	n = 24 CON: 13 BFR: 11	CON: 37.0 (32–47)		CON: Physiotherapy	12 ss Time: 6 ss	CON: Immediate weight loading, immediate formal physiotherapy and no range of motion restrictions.	Non-Reconstructive Knee Arthroscopy
Tennent et al. [53]	n = 24 CON: 13 BFR: 11	BFR: 37.0 (30–46.2)	80% Full BFR	BFR: Physiotherapy + (Strength training + BFR)	12 ss Time: 6 ss	BFR: CON + 4 sets (reps: 30, 15, 15, 15), 30% 1RM, 30 s rest–1 min rest/ex. (leg press, leg extension and reverse press). 5 min max. occlusion/ex.	Non-Reconstructive Knee Arthroscopy

BFR: Blood flow restriction group; CON: Control Group; d: days; EG₁: Experimental group 1; EG₂: Experimental group 2; EG₃: Experimental group 3; h: hours; HR: Heart Rate; kg: Kilogram; PC: Common process; MVIC: Maximal voluntary isometric contraction; reps: Repetitions; RM: Maximal repetition; RPE: Rating Perceived Exertion; s: Seconds; ss: SessionsVAS: Visual Analogic Scale; w: Weeks. * The author classifies subjects depending on their lower limbs.