Blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise (a.k.a. occlusion training) has emerged as a viable surrogate to traditional heavy-load strength rehabilitation training for a broad range of clinical populations including elderly subjects and rehabilitating athletes. A particular benefit of BFR exercise is the lower stress upon the joints as compared to traditional heavy resistance training, with similar gains in muscle strength and size. The application of an inflatable cuff to the proximal portion of the limbs increases the pressure required for venous return, leading to changes in venous compliance and wall tension. However, it is not known if long-term benefits of BFR exercise on muscle strength and size outweigh potential short and long-term complications on vascular health. BFR exercise could lead to clinical deterioration of the vasculature along with sympathetic overactivity and decreased vascular function associated with retrograde shear stress. This raises a fundamental question: Given the concern that excessive restriction could cause injury to endothelial cells and might cause detrimental effects on endothelial function, even in healthy individuals, should we critically re-evaluate the safety of this method for the general population? From this perspective, the purpose of this manuscript is to review the effects of BFR exercise on vascular function, and to provide relevant insights for training practice as well as future directions for research.

中文翻译：

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限流运动对血管健康的潜在影响：简要回顾。

血流限制（BFR）运动（又名闭塞训练）已成为传统的重负荷力量康复训练的可行替代品，适用于包括老年人和康复运动员在内的广泛临床人群。BFR锻炼的一个特别好处是，与传统的重阻力训练相比，关节承受的压力更低，肌肉力量和大小也有相似的增长。在四肢的近端应用可充气袖带会增加静脉回流所需的压力，从而导致静脉顺应性和壁张力的变化。但是，尚不清楚BFR锻炼对肌肉力量和大小的长期益处是否超过潜在的短期和长期并发症对血管健康的影响。BFR运动可能导致脉管系统的临床恶化，以及交感神经过度活动和与逆行切应力相关的血管功能下降。这就提出了一个基本问题：考虑到过度限制会导致内皮细胞损伤并可能对内皮功能产生有害影响，即使是在健康个体中，我们是否应该对整个人群安全地重新评估该方法的安全性呢？从这个角度出发，该手稿的目的是回顾BFR锻炼对血管功能的影响，并为训练实践和研究的未来方向提供相关见解。考虑到过度限制可能会损害内皮细胞并可能对内皮功能产生有害影响（即使在健康个体中），我们是否应该对整个人群安全地重新评估该方法的安全性呢？从这个角度出发，该手稿的目的是回顾BFR锻炼对血管功能的影响，并为训练实践以及研究的未来方向提供相关见解。考虑到过度限制可能会损害内皮细胞并可能对内皮功能产生有害影响（即使在健康个体中），我们是否应该对整个人群安全地重新评估该方法的安全性呢？从这个角度出发，该手稿的目的是回顾BFR锻炼对血管功能的影响，并为训练实践以及研究的未来方向提供相关见解。