Personalized blood flow restriction training at variable occlusion pressures improves multisystem function in overweight and obese older women.

Authors

Haonan Qian, Hyunsoo Choi

Published in

European journal of applied physiology. Jun 29, 2026. Epub Jun 29, 2026.

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of 12-week low-intensity blood flow restriction (BFR) training at different arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) levels on cardiopulmonary, immune, muscular, and metabolic functions in overweight and obese older women. A total of 180 community-dwelling women aged ≥ 60 years with body mass index ≥ 25.0 kg/m² were randomly allocated to BFR training groups at 50%, 60%, or 70% AOP or a control group performing identical exercises without pressure. Participants completed supervised training sessions three times weekly for 12 weeks. BFR training induced significant improvements across all physiological systems, with dose-dependent responses correlating with AOP levels. The 70% AOP group demonstrated the greatest reductions in inflammatory markers (IL-6: -28.4%; hs-CRP: -35.7%), the largest gains in muscle hypertrophy (quadriceps thickness: +10.2%), and the most pronounced improvements in metabolic parameters (HOMA-IR: -25.0%). Obese women showed greater absolute improvements in inflammatory and metabolic markers compared to overweight participants. Most improvements were maintained at 24-week follow-up, particularly anti-inflammatory effects in the higher pressure group. The findings establish 60-70% AOP as the optimal range for maximizing multi-system adaptations while maintaining safety. BFR training represents a safe and effective low-load exercise modality for older women, offering comprehensive physiological benefits with high adherence rates (90.7-93.1%) and a low rate of minor adverse events (12.2%), none requiring medical intervention, with 60% AOP recommended as the optimal starting pressure and 70% AOP for individuals requiring maximal cardiometabolic benefits. These findings have potential implications for populations with treatment-related deconditioning, including cancer survivors, though further investigation is warranted.

PMID:
42371066
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 13 Aug 2026.

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