Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42544314›Full record

ReviewCureus2026

Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Exercise on Muscle Oxygenation and Microvascular Function in Healthy Individuals: A Narrative Review.

Aikaterini Gakidi, Andreas Zafeiridis, Konstantina Dipla, Leonidas Kastritseas, Aikaterini Tzioutzia, Athanasios Zacharias, Georgia Pitsiou, Afroditi Boutou

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Aikaterini GakidiDepartment of Respiratory Failure, G. Papanikolaou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GRC.
Andreas ZafeiridisLaboratory of Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Serres, GRC.
Konstantina DiplaLaboratory of Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Serres, GRC.
Leonidas KastritseasLaboratory of Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Serres, GRC.
Aikaterini TzioutziaDepartment of Respiratory Failure, G. Papanikolaou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GRC.
Athanasios ZachariasDepartment of Respiratory Failure, G. Papanikolaou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GRC.
Georgia PitsiouDepartment of Respiratory Failure, G. Papanikolaou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GRC.
Afroditi BoutouDepartment of Respiratory Failure, G. Papanikolaou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GRC.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Blood flow restriction (BFR) training involves partial occlusion of limb blood flow during exercise, and it is known to promote gains in skeletal muscle strength and hypertrophy. However, its impact on muscle oxygenation and microvascular function remains unclear, as recent studies and reviews have mainly focused on macrovascular acute and chronic adaptations. This review aimed to examine the effects of BFR exercise on muscle oxygenation and microvascular function in healthy individuals. Research for this narrative review was conducted on PubMed/MEDLINE in January 2026. Randomized and non-randomized trials on healthy adults assessing the effects of acute or long-term BFR exercise on muscle oxygenation and microvascular function via near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), compared to non-BFR exercise, were included. Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Acute BFR exercise was associated with significantly elevated skeletal muscle deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHb) and total hemoglobin (tHb) responses, while O

Indexed as

bfrblood flow restriction exercisemicrovascular functionmuscle oxygenationnear-infrared spectroscopy (nirs)reactive hyperemia

Identifiers

PMID42544314
PMCPMC13429171

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.