Blood Flow Restriction Training in Hemodialysis Patients: Clinical Benefits, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Blood flow restriction training uses cuffs to partially restrict blood flow to the limbs during low-intensity exercise. Compared with traditional high-load training, this approach can improve muscle strength and endurance with lighter loads, making it a potentially suitable strategy for hemodialysis patients who suffer from muscle wasting, weakness, and impaired quality of life. However, optimal protocols for blood flow restriction training in this population remain unclear, and further research is needed to evaluate its long-term effects on muscle mass, strength, and quality of life. This narrative review summarizes the available clinical evidence and recent advances in blood flow restriction training for hemodialysis patients. Based on literature retrieved from major databases, the review presents the historical background of blood flow restriction training, its key methodological parameters (including cuff pressure and exercise selection), underlying physiological mechanisms, and emerging clinical outcomes in dialysis patients.