Low-Load Resistance Training With Blood Flow Restriction Improves Clinical Outcomes in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Figures

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  FIGURE 1. Study protocol and participant flow.

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  FIGURE 2. Changes in quadriceps muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) (A,B), thigh CSA (C,D), quadriceps muscle volume (E,F) and thigh muscle volume (G,H) at baseline and after 3-weeks of rehabilitation. Black points LL-BFR group, White points Conventional Resistance Training (RT) group. Bar charts show group percent changes over time. Data is expressed as mean ± SD. ∗p < 0.05 and ∗∗p < 0.01 versus baseline measurement. Data refers to primary injured limb. LL-BFR, low-load blood flow restriction; RT, resistance training; CSA, cross-sectional area.

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  FIGURE 3. Changes in 5-RM leg press (A,B), 5-RM knee extension (C,D) and isometric hip extension (E,F) at baseline and after 3-weeks of rehabilitation. Black points LL-BFR group, White points Conventional Resistance Training (RT) group. Bar charts show group percent changes over time. Data is expressed as mean ± SD. ∗p < 0.05 and ∗∗p < 0.01 versus baseline measurement. Data refers to primary injured limb. LL-BFR, low-load blood flow restriction; RT, resistance training; RM, repetition maximum.

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  FIGURE 4. Changes in multi-stage locomotion test (MSLT) (A,B), and pooled Y balance (C,D) at baseline and after 3-weeks of rehabilitation. Black points LL-BFR group, White points Conventional Resistance Training (RT) group. Bar charts show group percent changes over time. Data is expressed as mean ± SD. ∗ p < 0.05 and ∗∗p < 0.01 versus baseline measurement. Data refers to primary injured limb. LL-BFR, low-load blood flow restriction; RT, resistance training.

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  FIGURE 5. Changes in LL-BFR participant’s self-reported pain before, during and 5 min after the completion of exercise. Data collected over six time points (every five training sessions) during the 3-weeks intervention. Data is expressed as mean ± SD, ∗p < 0.05. VAS, visual analog scale.