Key result
Blood flow restriction after ACLR is linked to ~24% greater knee extension torque vs rehab alone.
Why the study?
Blood flow restriction training is rising in popularity for mitigating knee strength deficits after ACLR, but its impact on adolescent knee strength at 3 months and return to sport required investigation.
Does blood flow restriction training improve knee strength and patient-reported function in adolescents after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction?
Cohort (n=32)
Does blood flow restriction training improve knee strength and patient-reported function in adolescents after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction?
Mean Difference: 0.403
Absolute Event Rate: 2.15% vs 1.74%
p-value: p=0.024
The addition of a standardized blood flow restriction training protocol to traditional rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction in adolescents significantly improves knee strength and patient-reported function.
May support adding BFRT to adolescent ACLR rehab; hypothesis-generating pending randomized confirmation.
Background: Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is rising in popularity because of its benefits in reducing muscle atrophy and mitigating knee strength deficits. Purpose: To investigate the impact BFRT has on adolescent knee strength after ACLR at 2 postoperative time points: at 3 months and the time of return to sport (RTS). Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A prospective intervention (BFRT) group was compared to an age-, sex-, and body mass index–matched retrospective control group. Patients aged 12 to 18 years who underwent primary ACLR with a quadriceps tendon autograft were included. Along with a traditional rehabilitation protocol, the BFRT group completed a standardized BFRT protocol (3 BFRT exercises performed twice weekly for the initial 12 weeks postoperatively). Peak torque values for isometric knee extension and flexion strength (at 3 months and RTS) and isokinetic strength at 180 deg/s (at RTS) as well as Pediatric International Knee Documentation Committee (Pedi-IKDC) scores were collected. Differences between the BFRT and control groups were compared with 2-way mixed analysis of variance and 1-way analysis of variance. Results: The BFRT group consisted of 16 patients (10 female; mean age, 14.84 ± 1.6 years) who were matched to 16 patients in the control group (10 female; mean age, 15.35 ± 1.3 years). Regardless of the time point, the BFRT group demonstrated significantly higher isometric knee extension torque compared to the control group (2.15 ± 0.12 N·m/kg [95% CI, 1.90-2.39] vs 1.74 ± 0.12 N·m/kg [95% CI, 1.49-1.98], respectively; mean difference, 0.403 N·m/kg; P = .024). The BFRT group also reported significantly better Pedi-IKDC scores compared to the control group at both 3 months (68.91 ± 9.68 vs 66.39 ± 12.18, respectively) and RTS (89.42 ± 7.94 vs 72.79 ± 22.81, respectively) ( P = .047). Conclusion: In adolescents, the addition of a standardized BFRT protocol to a traditional rehabilitation protocol after ACLR significantly improved knee strength and patient-reported function compared to a traditional rehabilitation program alone.
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Roman et al. (2023) conducted a cohort in Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) (n=32). Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) vs. Traditional rehabilitation protocol alone was evaluated on Isometric knee extension torque (MD 0.403 N·m/kg, p=0.024). Blood flow restriction training after ACLR significantly improved isometric knee extension torque compared to traditional rehabilitation alone (2.15 vs 1.74 N·m/kg; MD 0.403; P=0.024).
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