Benefits of Resistance Training with Blood Flow Restriction in Knee Osteoarthritis

Ferraz RB, et al. · Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

BFR matched heavy training. Leg-press 1-RM rose 26% and 33%, knee-extension 1-RM 23% and 22%, and quadriceps cross-sectional area 7% and 8% in the BFR and heavy-load arms respectively (all p < 0.0001), and all three were significantly greater than low-load training alone (p < 0.05). WOMAC physical function improved 49% on BFR and 42% on heavy load; WOMAC pain improved on BFR and on plain low-load training (45% and 39%) but not on heavy load. Four of the sixteen patients in the heavy-load arm were excluded for exercise-induced knee pain, an incidence Fisher's exact test put significantly above both other arms (p = 0.03 against each), in which there were none.

Population

48 women with knee OA

Intervention

12 weeks low-load (30% 1RM) resistance training with BFR

Comparator

Low-intensity without BFR, and high-intensity (80% 1RM) training

Limitations

Women only, single center, 12 weeks, no structural outcomes; assessor blinding limited.