The purpose of this study was to examine whether circulatory occlusion of the hand impacts on regional forearm muscle haemodynamics as determined by the near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) venous occlusion technique (NIRSVOT). Twenty-five young, healthy participants (18 males and 7 females; 28 ± 4 years; 71 ± 7 kg) completed two experimental protocols that were performed on the dominant arm: (1) a series of five venous occlusion trials with a suprasystolic cuff (>260 mmHg) applied to the wrist and (2) five venous occlusion trials without hand-occlusion. Both protocols were performed twice in a counterbalanced manner. NIRS data were obtained from the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) muscle using a dual wavelength, continuouswave spectrophotometer. FDS muscle blood flow (QFDS), vascular conductance (CFDS), O2 consumption (VFDS), and venous O2 saturation (SvO2) were calculated from NIRS data during the initial 5 s of venous occlusion. Circulatory occlusion of the hand via wrist cuffing significantly (P < 0.05) reduced QFDS (-36 ± 23%), CFDS (-37 ± 23%), Vo2FDS (-14 ± 31%) and SvO2 (-14 ± 12%). These findings indicate that hand-occlusion, via wrist cuffing, adversely impacts on regional forearm haemodynamics as determined by the NIRS-VOT. Consequently, it is recommended that future investigators avoid hand-occlusion when using the NIRS-VOT to quantify spontaneous haemodynamics of regional forearm muscle.