Abstract

Background: There is growing evidence to support the use of low-load blood flow restriction (LL-BFR) exercise in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of low-load blood flow restricted (LL-BFR) training versus conventional high mechanical load resistance training (RT) on the clinical outcomes of patient’s undergoing inpatient multidisciplinary team (MDT) rehabilitation.Study design: A single-blind randomized controlled study.Methods: Twenty-eight lower-limb injured adults completed a 3-week intensive MDT rehabilitation program. Participants were randomly allocated into a conventional RT (3-days/week) or twice-daily LL-BFR training group. Outcome measurements were taken at baseline and 3-weeks and included quadriceps and total thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and volume, muscle strength [five repetition maximum (RM) leg press and knee extension test, isometric hip extension], pain and physical function measures (Y-balance test, multistage locomotion test—MSLT).Results: A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance revealed no significant differences between groups for any outcome measure post-intervention (p > 0.05). Both groups showed significant improvements in mean scores for muscle CSA/volume, 5-RM leg press, and 5-RM knee extension (p < 0.01) after treatment. LL-BFR group participants also demonstrated significant improvements in MSLT and Y-balance scores (p < 0.01). The Pain scores during training reduced significantly over time in the LL-BFR group (p = 0.024), with no adverse events reported during the study.Conclusion: Comparable improvements in muscle strength and hypertrophy were shown in LL-BFR and conventional training groups following in-patient rehabilitation. The LL-BFR group also achieved significant improvements in functional capacity. LL-BFR training is a rehabilitation tool that has the potential to induce positive adaptations in the absence of high mechanical loads and therefore could be considered a treatment option for patients suffering significant functional deficits for whom conventional loaded RT is contraindicated.Trial Registration: ISRCTN Reference: ISRCTN63585315, dated 25 April 2017.

Highlights

  • Functional ability during rehabilitation is closely associated with improvements in strength training (Kristensen and Franklyn-Miller, 2012)

  • A recent review reveals superior increases in muscle strength from heavyload resistance training (RT) compared to low-load training with Blood flow restriction (BFR), but comparable changes in muscular hypertrophy (Lixandrao et al, 2017)

  • Low-load RT with BFR was able to facilitate these improvements in muscle function using a reduced exercise volume (Fahs et al, 2015)

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Functional ability during rehabilitation is closely associated with improvements in strength training (Kristensen and Franklyn-Miller, 2012). Optimizing the potential for adaptations in muscle strength is an important consideration in the progression of any musculoskeletal (MSK) rehabilitation program. Blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise at low-loads (20–40% 1-RM) has been shown to be a safe (Loenneke et al, 2011) and effective tool to enhance the morphology and strength response in human muscle tissue (Slysz et al, 2016). There is growing evidence for the practical and beneficial use of lowload blood flow restriction (LL-BFR) training as a clinical MSK rehabilitation tool (Takarada et al, 2000; Segal N. et al, 2015; Segal N.A. et al, 2015; Bryk et al, 2016; Giles et al, 2017; Tennent et al, 2017). Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of low-load blood flow restricted (LL-BFR) training versus conventional high mechanical load resistance training (RT) on the clinical outcomes of patient’s undergoing inpatient multidisciplinary team (MDT) rehabilitation

Objectives
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call