Clinical Applications of Blood Flow Restriction and Rehabilitation Outcomes

Launched by ASPETAR · Jul 24, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how a specific type of exercise called low load resistance training, combined with a technique known as blood flow restriction, can help reduce pain in men suffering from chronic knee pain or shoulder pain related to the rotator cuff. The goal is to see if this combination of exercise helps improve pain levels and how sensitive the body is to pain after the exercise. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the exercise with blood flow restriction or a placebo treatment that does not restrict blood flow, ensuring that neither the participants nor the assessors know which treatment they are receiving.

To be eligible for this study, participants must be male adults over 18 years old who have been experiencing knee or shoulder pain for more than six weeks and have a certain level of pain during specific movements. For example, those with knee pain should rate their pain as 3 out of 10 or higher during certain tests like squats or stepping down. Participants can expect to engage in supervised exercise sessions and have their pain levels measured before and after exercises. It's important to note that individuals with certain health conditions, like diabetes or a history of severe joint issues, may not qualify for this study.

Gender

MALE

Eligibility criteria

• • Anterior Knee Pain patients We will recruit 40 male adult participants who had consulted a sports medicine physician in a primary care setting for anterior knee pain complaints. A standardized history and physical examination will be conducted by the physiotherapists of the rehabilitation department for inclusion in the study.
• Inclusion criteria:
• • age over 18 years,
• • diagnosis of AKP confirmed by history and physical examination (with or without imaging) for more than six weeks
• • non-traumatic history of pain onset
• • pain at least during one of the three functional tests used as outcome measure (single-leg shallow leg squat, single-leg deep knee squat, step down)
• • pain equal or greater than 3/10 on a numeric pain rating scale (at least in 2/3 functional tests)
• • unobstructed knee range of motion and no pain in passive end-range knee extension
• Exclusion criteria:
• • BMI greater than 28
• • systemic pathology including inflammatory joint disease or neoplastic disorders
• • history of deep venous thrombosis
• • hypertension (systolic pressure \>140mmHg)
• • history of endothelial dysfunction
• • peripheral vascular disease
• • diabetes
• • knee pain referred from the spine
• • history of previous neurological conditions
• • any previous medical treatment including injections (past 3 months) or drug therapy (i.e., anti-inflammatory drugs the last 2 weeks)
• • infection
• • previous blood flow restriction training
• • inability to understand written and spoken English or Arabic.
• • Rotator cuff related shoulder pain patients We will recruit 40 male adult participants who had consulted a sports medicine physician in a primary care setting for shoulder complaints. A standardized history and physical examination were conducted by the physiotherapists of the rehabilitation department for inclusion in the study.
• Inclusion criteria:
• • age over 18 years
• • rotator cuff related shoulder pain for more than six weeks
• • pain greater than 3/10 on a numeric pain rating scale on active abduction and/or resisted external rotation at zero degrees of shoulder abduction (assessed in standing with the arm in slight abducted position)
• Exclusion criteria:
• • full-thickness rotator cuff tear (positive drop-arm sign and/or radiographic or ultrasonographic evidence)
• • BMI greater than 28
• • previous shoulder surgery or shoulder fracture
• • imaging evidence of severe shoulder osteoarthritis or tendon calcification,\\
• • adhesive capsulitis
• • systemic pathology including inflammatory joint disease or neoplastic disorders
• • restriction of passive range of motion in more than two planes
• • history of deep venous thrombosis
• • hypertension (systolic pressure \>140mmHg)
• • history of endothelial dysfunction
• • peripheral vascular disease
• • diabetes
• • shoulder pain referred from the spine
• • history of previous neurological conditions
• • any previous medical treatment including injections (past 3 months) or drug therapy (i.e., anti-inflammatory drugs the last 2 weeks)
• • infection
• • previous BFR training
• • inability to understand written and spoken English or Arabic