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Background: The popularity of incorporating powerlifting exercises in resistance trainingprograms for rehabilitative purposes may be increasing among health care providers.

Objectives: To review and compile the occurrence, safety, and effects of the powerliftingexercises (back squat, bench press and deadlift) in clinical treatment studies of symptomaticphysical and mental health problems.

Methods: Four databases were systematically searched in October 2023. Studies involving atleast one powerlifting exercise, performed by patients with physical and/or mental healthproblems, and investigating outcome measures affecting the health problem of the patients,were included.

Results: The fifteen included studies investigated effects on chronic low back pain, musculo-skeletal pain, anterior cruciate ligament injury, post-COVID-19, chronic fatigue syndrome, hyper-tension, pulmonary hypertension and lymphoedema caused by breast cancer treatment.

Conclusions: Although using powerlifting exercises to treat symptomatic physical and men-tal health problems appears safe, evidence of effectiveness is limited. More research isneeded to determine clinical utility