Outcomes of blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise in osteoarthritis patients
| Study | Year | Study design | Methods (cuff and pressure) | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segal et al.30 | 2015 | RCT |
BFR (n=19): 30−200 mm Hg 30% 1 RM Control (n=22): BFR (−) 30% 1 RM |
Bilateral leg press 1 RM increased significantly in both the control and the BFR groups with no significant group differences Significant improvements in isokinetic knee extensor strength in the control group, but not in the BFR group Significant improvements in KOOS scores in the control group, but not in the BFR group |
| Segal et al.29 | 2015 | RCT |
BFR (n=19): 30−200 mm Hg 30% 1 RM Control (n=21): BFR (−) 30% 1 RM |
Bilateral leg press 1 RM increased significantly in the BFR group than in the control group Isokinetic knee extensor strength increased significantly more in the BFR group than in the control group Quadriceps volume with no intergroup difference No worsening of knee pain in both group with no significant intergroup differences |
| Bryk et al.8 | 2016 | RCT |
BFR (n=17): 200 mm Hg 30% 1 RM Control (n=17): pressure not described; 70% 1 RM |
Higher level of quadriceps strength, function, less pain at 6-week with no inter-group difference The BFR group with decreased anterior knee discomfort compared to the control group |
| Ferraz et al.7 | 2018 | RCT |
BFR (LI-RT, n=16): 70% LOP 20−30% 1 RM 1st Control (HI-RT, n=16): BFR (−): 50%−80% 1 RM 2nd Control (LI-RT, n=16): BFR (−) 20%−30% 1 RM |
Significant 1 RM increase in HI-RT and BFRT but not in LI-RT, with no inter-group difference Significant quadriceps CSA increase in HI-RT and BFRT but not in LI-RT with no inter-group difference Significant improvement by TST in HI-RT and BFRT and no significant change by TUG WOMAC physical function improved in HI-RT and BFRT WOMAC pain improved in BFRT and LI-RT |
| Harper et al.6 | 2019 | RCT |
BFR (n=19): [pressure=0.5×SBP＋2 (thigh circumference)+5] 20% 1 RM Control MI-RT (n=16): BFR (−) 60% 1 RM |
Isokinetic knee extension improvement in both groups of 60°/sec, 90°/sec, and 120°/sec with no significant difference Function (400 m walk, SPPB, LLFDI) improvement in both groups with no significant difference Pain (WOMAC and NPRS) improvement in both groups with no significant difference |
RCT: randomized control trial, RM: repeated maximum, KOOS: Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, LOP: limb occlusion pressure, HI-RT: high-intensity resistance training, BFRT: blood flow restriction training, LI-RT: low-intensity resistance training, CSA: cross-sectional area, TST: timed stands test, TUG: timed up and go test, WOMAC: Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, SBP: systolic blood pressure, MI-RT: moderate-intensity resistance training, SPPB: short physical performance battery, LLFDI: late life function and disability instrument, NPRS: numeric pain rating scale.
