Introduction: Blood flow restriction training is a type of training with intentional restriction of blood flow through active muscles, which is achieved by tourniquet. Nowadays it is already utilized to eliminate muscle weakness and atrophy in lower extremities, which are already comprehensively researched. Currently there is hardly any research of the effects of this training on strengthening the shoulder muscles proximal to the tourniquet. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to review the literature on how blood flow restriction training affects strength of the shoulder muscles in healthy adults. Methods: The literature search was conducted in the PubMed database. The keywords used were: “upper extremity AND blood flow restriction OR upper extremity AND BFR.” Studies that were randomized controlled trials, written in English, published inclusively between 2020 and 2024 and researched the effects of blood flow restriction training on strengthening the shoulder muscles in healthy adults, met the inclusion criteria. Results: Five studies were included in the literature review, each including a group of subjects performing blood flow restriction training in combination with other training programmes, compared to control group. Additionally, some studies included a group with occlusion without training programme, a group observing contralateral effects or a group with sedentary rest. Training programmes and their duration varied throughout the studies. Three of the studies observed statistically significant increases (p < 0,05 or p < 0,01) of the shoulder muscles strength, and one found a short-term effect of post activation potentiation enhancement, especially at fourth minute after training (p < 0,05). Another one observed greater increase in muscle strength, but it was not statistically significant. Discussion and conclusion: In this literature review we concluded that low intensity blood flow restriction training in combination with other types of training programmes is effective for strengthening shoulder muscles which implies at the effect of blood flow restriction training on muscles proximal to the tourniquet. Further research is needed to prove this effect on shoulder muscles.
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