Mixed
Low-load resistance training with blood flow restriction (LL-RT with BFR) produces muscle hypertrophy equivalent to high-load resistance training (HL-RT) across various repetition schemes (failure, 15 reps, or 75 reps) in lower limb exercises.
If you want to build muscle but cannot lift heavy weights due to injury or joint pain, try low-load resistance training combined with blood flow restriction (BFR). Use light weights (20-40% of your max) and restrict blood flow to the working muscle. You can use different repetition schemes (like 15 reps per set or going to failure), and you will likely build muscle just as effectively as if you were lifting heavy weights. This is particularly useful for rehabilitation or when heavy loading is contraindicated.
LL-RT with BFR elicits muscle hypertrophy similar to HL-RT regardless of the employed repetition scheme... no differences were reported in analyses involving lower limb muscles (SMD = 0.00066; p = 0.795).
Why this rating
High-quality systematic review and meta-analysis of 23 RCTs, though risk of bias was generally 'some concerns' or 'high'.
Source
Hypertrophic effects of low-load blood flow restriction training with different repetition schemes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Victor Sabino de Queirós et al. · PeerJ · 2024
DOI 10.7717/peerj.17195
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