Low-load resistance exercise, blood flow restriction, or sham blood flow restriction for anterior knee pain. A three-arm pilot RCT

Abstract

Introduction: Blood flow restriction (BFR) with low-load resistance exercise (LLRE) can induce significant pain reduction in anterior knee pain (AKP). However, evidence suggests that resistance exercise alone can also influence pain perception. This study evaluated if a single BFR-LLRE bout reduced pain compared to a LLRE bout with sham-BFR, or without BFR in patients with AKP.