Blood Flow Restriction Training Improves Functional Tests Associated with Return to Sport After Injury

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INTRODUCTION: Traditional strength training with high load resistance is not practical for patients with orthopedic injuries and often not tolerated well by sedentary individuals. Blood flow restricted training (BFRT) is an emerging way to increase muscle strength using low loads and high repetitions. However, whether this strength training method also transfers to functional outcomes used in rehabilitation, such as hop testing, is unknown. We hypothesized that BFRT would significantly improve muscle strength and hop test performance used in making return to sport decisions. METHODS: 4 healthy females and 7 males (24.5 ± 7.25 years old) who were not currently participating in strength training completed the study. Kaatsu BFRT bands were placed on the subjects’ thighs while they performed leg extension, calf raises, and leg press exercises starting at 30% of their 1 RM max, 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Resistance was adjusted every other training session. Isometric quadriceps strength was measured on a Biodex. Single leg hop and triple hop performance were measured before and after the study. Strength and hop distances were compared before and after KAATSU strengthening with a paired t-test. RESULTS: Significant improvements were found for peak quadriceps strength (pre: 170.0 ± 47.98 N, post: 197.1 ± 57.2 N, p=.037), single leg hop (pre: 128.9± 33.8cm, post: 154.2± 33.4cm, p=.007), and triple hop (pre: 405.5± 106.4cm, post: 428.4 ± 104.1cm, p=.025). CONCLUSIONS: BFRT is associated with significant improvements in muscle hypertrophy and functional improvements in healthy subjects. There were significant improvements in hop testing distances, indicating the benefits of BFRT extend beyond improved strength. Subsequent studies should evaluate the possibility of creating BFRT programs that target injury-specific muscle groups when high load resistance training is contraindicated due to surgery or injury.

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