Riassunto dello studio

Five studies including 205 patients with knee osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis were included in this systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis comparing blood flow restriction training (BFRT) versus moderate- or high-intensity resistance training (MIRT/HIRT). Pooled outcomes of interest included knee extension strength and physical function measured by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. The meta-analysis found no significant differences between BFRT and MIRT/HIRT in strength or functionality. A dose-response analysis showed that strength gains peaked at 2000 total repetitions and functional improvements at 1800 repetitions. These findings suggest that low-load BFRT is a comparably effective and potentially more tolerable alternative to traditional resistance training for improving strength and function in individuals with knee arthropathies.