Aplicação da restricção de fluxo sanguíneo em atletas : uma revisão integrativa

Abstract

The strategy of the blood flow restriction (BFR) technique has gained considerable traction as a training method to optimize physiological adaptations that promote increases in muscle strength and volume. The BFR technique involves complex physiological mechanisms, where compression partially restricts arterial flow and impairs venous return, leading to a state of relative hypoxia in the muscle distal to the application of the technique. Evidence suggests that this method can be effectively adapted for rehabilitation in various orthopedic injuries, allowing clinical populations to reintegrate into daily activities. An integrative review was conducted based on the analysis of 11 studies that examined different groups of athletes, from various sports, who employed BFR as a method in their training to assess its benefits. A total of 1357 articles were initially found, followed by the selection of 514 studies by title, 127 by relevant keywords, and finally, 11 papers were chosen based on abstract analysis. The literature search was conducted using the PubMed platform, focusing on articles published over a 15-year span, from 2009 to 2024, exclusively in English, using the operators: "blood flow restriction" OR "kaatsu training" AND "athletic". Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the perceived benefits in semi-professional and professional athletes across different sports, as well as the distinct advantages of using the BFR method in their training. It was concluded that physical training combined with the BFR method presents significant benefits in increasing muscle volume, strength, and physical quality in semi-professional athletes in most of the studies reviewed.