Skeletal muscles are one of the largest endocrine organs involved in various processes of maintaining the homeostasis, therefore preservation of muscle mass and strength is crucial for long, healthy and quality life. In most cases, disuse of muscles due to various chronic diseases, musculoskeletal injuries and/or aging leads to muscle weakness, which is one of the most clinically common musculoskeletal conditions worldwide. Resistance training is usually not advised or even discouraged in mentioned population due to high training loads. Recently, the studies have shown that resistance exercise with low loads to failure may induce similar hypertrophy as resistance exercise with high loads. This review article presents the low-load blood flow restricted exercise according to latest scientific findings. Blood flow restricted resistance exercise has shown that improvements in muscle strength and hypertrophy can be achieved with loads as low as 20 % 1RM. This article presents the established basis, effects, exercise loads and safety of blood flow resistance exercise.

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