Introduction: Anterior cruciate ligament injury is one of the most common knee injuries, often resulting in reduced strength and function of the knee muscles, thereby prolonging recovery time. Low-load blood flow restriction training is a modern method that improves muscle strength and function while placing minimal mechanical load on the joint, and it is becoming an increasingly important part of physiotherapy for individuals with anterior cruciate ligament rupture or reconstruction. Purpose: The purpose of this diploma work is to analyse, based on scientific and professional literature, the effects of low-load blood flow restriction training on muscle strength and function of knee muscles in patients after anterior cruciate ligament rupture or reconstruction, and to assess its effectiveness in patient prehabilitation. Methods: Literature was searched in the PubMed, ScienceDirect, and PEDro databases using selected keywords and predefined criteria. Only open-access studies that met these criteria were included. Results: Ten studies (six randomized controlled trials and four quasi-randomized controlled trials) published between 2016 and 2023 were included. Four studies investigated the effects of preoperative low-load blood flow restriction training, five focused on postoperative implementation, and one study examined a combination of both approaches. Preoperative use of this method contributed to the prevention of muscle atrophy, improved muscle strength and activation, and reduced muscle fatigue, primarily in the quadriceps, while effects on the hamstrings were less pronounced. Differences compared to standard approaches were often small or statistically insignificant. Postoperative low-load blood flow restriction training often resulted in better preservation of muscle mass, greater improvements in muscle strength, functional test results, and subjective outcomes. The perioperative method showed the most notable additional benefits in the early postoperative period. Discussion and conclusion: Low-load blood flow restriction training can effectively maintain or improve the strength and function of the knee muscles and prevent quadriceps atrophy, especially during periods of limited mechanical loading. Therefore, it represents a valuable adjunct to standard physiotherapy protocols following anterior cruciate ligament rupture or reconstruction. Future research should include larger samples, standardized protocols, and long-term follow-up, with particular emphasis on the combined use of this method in the perioperative period.
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