Do blood flow restriction exercises offer additional benefits when compared to conventional exercises in musculoskeletal rehabilitation? A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of low-load exercise with blood flow restriction (LLE-BFR) compared to conventional low-load (LLE) and high-load exercises (HLE) in improving muscle strength, disability, and pain intensity in individuals with musculoskeletal conditions. The findings suggest that LLE-BFR may offer superior benefits over LLE for muscle strength and disability, while showing no significant differences compared to HLE. However, the evidence for pain reduction was small and not clinically meaningful, and concerns regarding the consistency of adverse event reporting were noted.