EFFECTS OF ISCHEMIC PRECONDITIONING ON RESISTANCE EXERCISE PERFORMANCE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Objective: this systematic review aimed to synthesize the evidence on the effects of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on resistance exercise performance, as well as to identify methodological patterns across studies and discuss its practical applicability. Methodology: the review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA recommendations and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024529191). Searches were carried out in January 2026 in PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science. Randomized experimental studies involving healthy adults, trained or untrained, submitted to IPC and compared with control or sham conditions, with assessment of strength, muscular endurance, and muscle thickness, were included. Of the 1,340 records initially identified, 11 studies met the eligibility criteria and composed the final synthesis. Results: overall, the studies showed satisfactory methodological quality, although risk-of-bias assessment indicated a predominance of 'some concerns,' particularly regarding randomization and the selection of reported results. Findings showed that IPC was mainly associated with acute ergogenic effects, including increases in repetitions to failure, total training volume, and, in some cases, maximal strength. The few chronic studies also suggested benefits for strength gains, but without consistent evidence of increased muscle thickness. Conclusions: it is concluded that IPC has the potential to improve resistance exercise performance, although methodological heterogeneity and the possible influence of placebo-related factors require cautious interpretation.