Blood flow restriction training 鈥� an intervention to counteract muscle loss caused by the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: Physical inactivity is a major unintended consequence聽of the social distancing imposed by the Covid-19聽pandemic. Increased physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors聽have profound physiological impacts on muscular health,聽leading to muscle and strength losses that are associated with聽lower performance and higher mortality rates. In the so-called聽鈥渘ew normal鈥�, exercise routines must find alternative ways to聽replace high-intensity resistance exercises, since resources are聽limited in home environments. Blood flow restriction (BFR)聽is a low-intensity training method involving compressive聽pressure of the vasculature by use of a tourniquet cuff in the聽proximal portion of the upper and lower limbs. BFR has been聽demonstrated to be a safe and efficient training modality聽to promote muscle and strength gains in different groups,聽including those under musculoskeletal rehabilitation, young聽and older adults, and athletes. Objective: This review aims聽to show that BFR training is an effective intervention for聽counteracting losses of muscle mass and function caused by聽Covid-19. Methods: A review of the scientific literature was聽conducted on electronic databases, such as PubMed, Scielo and聽Web of Science, covering the period 2000鈥�2020. Results: We聽advocate the use of BFR training as an urgent counteracting聽intervention to prevent muscle and strength losses during social聽distancing and propose a progressive home-based protocol聽based on wide array of literature. Conclusion: This evidence聽can help practitioners, personal trainers, physical therapists,聽and physician assistants to implement an alternative exercise聽routine that may prevent the deleterious physiological effects聽of physical inactivity on muscle function during intermittent聽social distancing.