TY  - JOUR
AU  - de Queiros, Victor S.
AU  - Rolnick, Nicholas
AU  - Jaggers, Jason R.
AU  - Fortunato, Igor H.
AU  - de Albuquerque Filho, Nailton José Brandão
AU  - de Medeiros Gonzaga, Jozilma
AU  - da Cunha Lisboa, Maria Goretti
AU  - Hughes, Luke
PY  - 2026
TI  - Evaluating the effectiveness of blood flow restriction training in older adults: An overview of systematic reviews
JO  - Sports Medicine and Health Science
SN  - 2097-6291
SP  - 262
EP  - 272
VL  - 8
IS  - 3
AB  - ObjectiveTo synthesize evidence from systematic reviews on the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) training on muscle strength, hypertrophy, and functional performance in older adults.MethodsAn umbrella review was conducted after a comprehensive search in PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science until June 17, 2025. Eligible studies were systematic reviews, with or without meta-analyses, examining low-load BFR training in adults aged ≥ 50 years. Outcomes included muscle strength, hypertrophy, and physical function. Study selection and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers, and methodological quality was assessed using AMSTAR 2.ResultsTwenty-three systematic reviews comprising 53 unique trials were included. Meta-analyses consistently indicated that BFR training promotes hypertrophy comparable to high-load resistance training (HL-RT) and superior to low-load training without BFR. Evidence on strength is mixed: some meta-analyses found gains similar to HL-RT, others reported inferior or superior results. Nevertheless, the majority of evidence suggests that BFR provides greater strength improvements compared to low-load training without BFR. Findings on functional performance were inconsistent. All reviews were rated as low or critically low in methodological quality. Across comparisons, heterogeneity and recurring methodological limitations-such as inadequate blinding and allocation concealment-were noted in primary studies.ConclusionBFR training is a promising approach to enhance muscle strength and hypertrophy in older adults, but evidence certainty is limited by methodological weaknesses in both trials and reviews. Well-designed, high-quality studies are needed to confirm these effects and support clinical implementation.
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smhs.2025.10.002
DO  - 10.1016/j.smhs.2025.10.002