Blood Flow Restriction Training for Rehabilitation and Readiness in Tactical Populations: A Scoping Review.

Background/

Objectives

Tactical populations must maintain high physical capacity and operational readiness despite substantial occupational demands and musculoskeletal injury risk. Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) has potential applications in injury rehabilitation and the restoration or maintenance of physical capacity. However, BFRT research in tactical populations has not been systematically mapped. This review aimed to characterize the existing evidence.

Methods

This scoping review followed JBI methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidance. Seven databases and two clinical trial registries were searched. Two reviewers independently conducted study screening and data extraction. Evidence was summarized descriptively and graphically.

Results

Thirty reports representing 21 studies were included, comprising 17 completed studies and 4 protocol- or registry-only studies. All completed studies involved military populations, and all planned studies targeted military populations. No eligible studies involving other tactical occupations were identified. Completed studies generally had small BFRT-exposed samples and short intervention durations, with male representation more common than female representation across studies. They mainly examined rehabilitation and fitness/performance. Individualized occlusion-pressure prescription and low-load resistance exercise were common. Strength/power was the most frequently assessed observed outcome, whereas occupational performance was rarely assessed. Safety and implementation reporting in completed studies remained incomplete.

Conclusions

Completed BFRT studies in tactical populations have increased in recent years, but the evidence remains limited to military populations and exploratory in nature. Future studies should include non-military tactical occupations and more women, use larger samples and longer interventions, assess occupationally relevant outcomes, and improve the completeness and consistency of BFRT prescription, implementation, and safety reporting.