Blood Flow Restriction Therapy to Optimize Muscle Size and Strength in Recovery From Lower Limb Fractures

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA · Aug 1, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a special type of therapy called blood flow restriction therapy to help people recover muscle size and strength after a broken lower leg bone, specifically the shinbone (tibia). This therapy works by gently restricting blood flow to the leg during exercise, which can help patients start their rehabilitation sooner and potentially regain muscle strength faster, even while they need to avoid putting full weight on the injured leg.

The study is looking for adults between 19 and 60 years old who have a single fracture in one lower leg that requires about six weeks of limited weight-bearing or very light walking on that leg. Participants need to speak English, be able to follow weight-bearing instructions, and agree to join the trial. People with multiple fractures, nerve or blood vessel injuries, other serious conditions, or who are pregnant won’t be able to take part. If you join, you can expect to receive personalized blood flow restriction therapy alongside your usual care to see if it helps improve the size and strength of your thigh muscles during recovery. This study is not yet recruiting, but it aims to find out if this therapy is a safe and effective way to support healing after a tibia fracture.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Patients aged 19-60 who have sustained an isolated (single bone/area as per AO/OTA classification) unilateral lower limb fracture of the tibia that requires a period of 6 weeks of protected weight bearing (non-weight bearing or toe touch weight bearing)
• • 2. Must speak English
• • 3. Must be able to comply with protected weight bearing instructions for at least 6 weeks
• • 4. Must be able to consent for inclusion into the trial
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Patients who have sustained multiple fractures in the same limb (i.e. AO/OTA 3 and 4, or 4 and 8 etc).
• • 2. Patients who have a neurovascular injury associated with the fracture
• • 3. Patients who have sustained bilateral lower limb injuries
• • 4. Patients aged \<19 and \>60
• • 5. Patients with known peripheral vascular disease or vascular repair
• • 6. Patients with known coagulation disorders
• • 7. Patients with compartment syndrome
• • 8. Patients with free tissue transfer for soft tissue coverage
• • 9. Patients with ongoing VTE or infection in the affected limb
• • 10. Non-ambulatory patients
• • 11. Patients who are pregnant