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REVIEW article

Front. Physiol.

Sec. Exercise Physiology

Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1616874

This article is part of the Research TopicStrategies for Combatting Age-Related Decline through Targeted Exercise ProgramsView all 8 articles

Blood Flow Restriction Training: A New Approach for Preventing and Treating Sarcopenia in Older Adults

Provisionally accepted
Wei  LiWei Li1,2Mingzhen  HuMingzhen Hu1,2Qiushi  YinQiushi Yin1,2Yuqing  LiuYuqing Liu1,2Lin  ChenLin Chen2Qin  RuQin Ru2Guodong  XuGuodong Xu2Yuxiang  WuYuxiang Wu1,2*
  • 1Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
  • 2Jianghan University, Wuhan, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

With the intensification of population aging, sarcopenia in older adults has become a significant public health issue affecting quality of life. Sarcopenia is a progressive and systemic skeletal muscle disorder characterized by reduced muscle mass, decreased muscle strength, and diminished physical function. Although conventional exercise interventions have shown some efficacy in managing sarcopenia, their effects are limited and often insufficient to effectively halt disease progression. Therefore, exploring more efficient exercise interventions is of great importance. Blood flow restriction training (BFRT), as an emerging exercise intervention, has garnered increasing attention in recent years for its application in sarcopenia among older adults. Studies suggest that, compared to traditional resistance exercise, BFRT demonstrates superior effectiveness in improving muscle strength and mass in older adults, potentially serving as a viable alternative to conventional training methods. However, BFRT also presents certain limitations, including potential risks such as cardiovascular responses and muscle injury. Therefore, careful consideration of appropriate application scenarios and exercise loads is crucial during its implementation. This study reviews the biological mechanisms of BFRT in the intervention of sarcopenia and proposes tailored training protocols and application models for older adults. Furthermore, it thoroughly examines the potential risks and applicability of BFRT, aiming to provide theoretical foundations and practical guidance for clinical application. Additionally, the limitations of current research are analyzed, offering recommendations for future research directions.

Keywords: sarcopenia1, aging2, blood flow restriction training3, muscle mass4, muscle strength5

Received: 23 Apr 2025; Accepted: 01 Aug 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Li, Hu, Yin, Liu, Chen, Ru, Xu and Wu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Yuxiang Wu, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, Hubei Province, China

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