Table 1.
Summary of studies evaluating changes in objective measures of physical function following exercise intervention combined with blood flow restriction.
| References | Sample (Population, age) | Intervention details | Comparison group(s) | Physical function outcome (BFR vs. comparison) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | Duration | Modality | BFR prescription | n | Prescription | |||
| Jorgensen et al. (2018) | Sporadic inclusion body myositis; 69 ± 6 years | 11 | 12 weeks | Resistance training | 10 cm cuff width, 110 mmHg pressure; 2 Sessions per week; 3–4 sets of 25 repetitions of leg press, knee extension, knee flexion, calf raise, dorsi-flexion |
11 | Inactive control group | ↔ 2MWT ↔ 30STS ↔ TUG (no sig. Δ for any measure) |
| Barbosa et al. (2018) | End-stage kidney disease; ≥ 18 years | 12 | 8 weeks | Resistance training | 50% SBP using basic tensiometer; 2 Sessions per week; 6 sets of 10 tennis ball squeezes, 3 sets of 10 bicep curls (1–3 kg), 3 sets of 20 repetitious of 40% 1RM handgrip exercise |
14 | Non-BFR equivalent exercise group | ↔ Handgrip strength (no sig. Δ) |
| Ladlow et al. (2018) | Healthy Adults; 31 ± 7 years | 14 | 3 weeks | Resistance training | 10 cm cuff width, 60% LOP (124 ± 13 mmHg); 9 Sessions per week; 4 sets as 30/15/15/15 repetitions at 30% 1RM for leg press and knee extension |
14 | HLRT: 4 sets of 6-8 repetitions for deadlift, back squats, lunges at 6RM | ↑ Multi-stage locomotion test ↑ Y-Balance test |
| Ferraz et al. (2018) | Women with knee osteoarthritis; 60 ± 4 years | 16 | 12 weeks | Resistance training | 17.5 cm cuff width, 70% LOP (97 ± 8 mmHg); 2 Sessions per week; 4-5 sets of 15 repetitions of leg press and knee extension at 30% 1RM |
1. 16. 2. 16. |
1. Non-BFR equivalent exercise group 2.HLRT: 4 sets of 10 repetitions of leg press and knee extension at 80% 1RM | ↔ 30STS ↔ TUG (no sig. Δ) |
| Tennent et al. (2017) | Post-operative knee arthroscope; 37 ± 17 years | 10 | 6 weeks | Resistance training | 80% LOP; 2 Sessions per week; 4 sets as 30/15/15/15 repetitions of leg press, leg extension, and leg curl at 30% 1RM (in addition to traditional physical therapy) |
7 | Traditional physical therapy for knee arthroscope (immediate weight bearing, immediate formal physical therapy, and unrestricted range of motion) | ↔ STS5 ↔ 4SST ↔ Self-selected gait speed ↑ Timed stairs |
| Clarkson et al. (2017b) | Older adults; 70 ± 7 years | 10 | 6 weeks | Aerobic training | 10.5 cm cuff width, 60% LOP (134 ± 4 mmHg); 4 Sessions per week; 10 min walking outdoors at 4 km.h−1 (RPE 11-14) |
9 | Non-BFR equivalent exercise group | ↑ 6MWT ↑ 30STS ↑ TUG ↑ QCST |
| Cook et al. (2017) | Older adults; 76 ± 10 years | 12 | 12 weeks | Resistance training | 6 cm cuff width, 150% SBP (184 ± 25 mmHg); 2 Sessions per week; 3 sets to volitional failure of leg extension, leg curl and leg press at 30% 1RM (50% 1RM for leg press) |
1. 12 2. 12 |
1. HLRT: As per BFR protocol, but at 70% 1RM 2.Control group of light mobility exercises with light resistance | ↔ Gait speed ↔ SPPB (no sig. Δ for any measure) |
| Bryk et al. (2016) | Women with knee osteoarthritis; 61 ± 7 years | 17 | 6 weeks | Resistance training | 200 mmHg; 3 Sessions per week; 3 sets of 30 repetitions of seated knee extension at 30% 1RM, in addition to non-occluded resistance exercises for hamstring and gluteal muscles at 70% 1RM |
17 | Non-BFR equivalent exercise group, with knee extensions performed at 70% 1RM | ↔ TUG |
| Araujo et al. (2015) | Post-menopausal women; 54 ± 4 years | 10 | 8 weeks | Hydrotherapy | 18 cm cuff width, 80% LOP (106 ± 10 mmHg); 3 Sessions per week; 4 sets as 30/15/15/15 repetitions of hip flexion/extension, hip abduction/adduction, knee flexion/extension (with 1-5 kg ankle weights) |
1. 102. 8 | 1.Non-BFR equivalent exercise group; 2.Inactive control group | ↔ STS5 ↔ Gait Speed (no sig. Δ) ↔ Heel-toe walking (no sig. Δ) ↑ TUG |
| Yasuda et al. (2014) | Older adults; 70 ± 7 years | 9 | 12 weeks | Resistance training | 5 cm cuff width, 120-270 mmHg; 2 Sessions per week; 4 sets as 30/25/15/10 repetitions of knee extension and leg press, at 20-30% 1RM | 10 | Inactive control | ↑ 30STS |
| Ozaki et al. (2011) | Older adults; 66 ± 1 years | 10 | 10 weeks | Aerobic training | 140-200 mmHg; 4 Sessions per week; 20 min treadmill walking at 4.5 km.h−1 and 1.6 degree incline (45% HRR) | 8 | Non-BFR equivalent exercise group | ↔ 30STS ↑ TUG |
| Abe et al. (2010) | Older adults; 60 - 78 years |
11 | 6 weeks | Aerobic training | 160-200 mmHg; 5 Sessions per week; 20 min treadmill walking at 4 km.h−1 (45% HRR) | 8 | Inactive control | ↑ 30STS ↑ TUG |
| Yokokawa et al. (2008) | Older adults; ≥ 65 years |
19 | 8 weeks | Resistance training | 4.5 cm width elastic belt, 120% SBP (70-150 mmHg); 2 Sessions per week; Body weight half squats, forward lunges, calf raises, knee lifts, crunches, seated knee flexion and extension |
25 | Dynamic balance exercise group performing symmetrical and asymmetrical movements; forward and lateral reach; forward and backward steps; standing and walking on a reduced base of support; increasing the complexity of ambulatory tasks; and functional ankle strengthening, all performed on balance mats. | ↔ 10mWT ↔ Jump reaction time ↔ Maximum step distance ↑ TUG |
Age data presented as mean ± SD unless otherwise indicated. BFR, blood flow restriction pressure; SBP, systolic blood pressure; LOP, limb occlusion pressure; HLRT, High intensity resistance training; 1RM, One-repetition maximum (maximum load able to be lifted for a single repetition); 6RM, Six-repetition maximum (maximum load able to be lifted for six repetitions); HRR, Heart rate reserve; RPE, Rating of perceived exertion; 2MWT, Two-minute walk test; 30STS, 30-second sit-to-stand; TUG, Timed up and go; STS5, Five-times sit-to-stand; 4SST, Four square step test; 6MWT, Six-minute walk test; QCST, Queen's college step test; SPPB, Short physical performance battery; 10mWT, Ten meter walk test.