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Blood Flow Restriction Training Reduces Hemodynamic Load and Improves Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Runners with
Young-Joo Kim1, Choung-Hwa Park2, Han-Soo Park3
1School of Sports Science, SungshinWomen's University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Journal of Sports Science & Medicine
|June 19, 2026
Summary
Blood flow restriction (BFR) training improved exercise blood pressure and cardiorespiratory fitness in middle-aged runners with exercise-induced hypertension (EIH). This intervention reduced hemodynamic load and key cardiovascular biomarkers, offering a non-pharmacological approach for EIH management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Exercise Science
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Exercise-induced hypertension (EIH) presents significant cardiovascular risks, including arrhythmia and coronary artery disease.
- Non-pharmacological interventions are sought to manage EIH and mitigate associated health risks.
- Blood flow restriction (BFR) training is a potential intervention for improving cardiovascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of BFR training on cardiovascular biomarkers and hemodynamic parameters in middle-aged runners with EIH.
- To determine if BFR training leads to improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise blood pressure response.
- To assess changes in specific biomarkers such as endothelin-1 (ET-1), hs-CRP, and NT-proBNP.
Main Methods:
- A secondary analysis of 28 male runners with EIH (mean age 57.4 years) was conducted.
- Participants were assigned to a BFR training group (n=16) or a control group (n=12).
- BFR training involved 8 weeks of twice-weekly sessions (20 minutes each), alongside assessments of cardiorespiratory fitness and hemodynamic response during graded exercise testing (GXT).
Main Results:
- BFR training significantly reduced maximal systolic blood pressure and VO2max increased in the BFR group (p < .05).
- Key cardiovascular biomarkers, including endothelin-1 (ET-1), hs-CRP, and NT-proBNP, decreased post-BFR training (p < .05).
- Hemodynamic load improved, evidenced by reductions in rate-pressure product (RPP) and pulse pressure (PP) during maximal exercise (p < .05).
Conclusions:
- BFR training effectively improved exercise blood pressure response and cardiorespiratory fitness in middle-aged runners with EIH.
- The observed hemodynamic improvements were associated with significant reductions in detrimental cardiovascular biomarkers (ET-1, hs-CRP, NT-proBNP).
- BFR training represents a promising non-pharmacological strategy for managing EIH and reducing cardiovascular risk in this population.
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