Investigating the Effect of Blood Flow Restriction Walking Training on Measures of Physical Function

In male and female older adults aged 60 to 80 years is 6 w x 4d/w blood flow restriction walking exercise more effective in improving performance in functional physical assessments compared with unrestricted walking exercise (placebo).

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12614000649617

Enrollment

Registered

2014-06-20

Start date

2014-07-01

Completion date

2014-12-24

Last updated

2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

This is a student project contributing to a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science (Honours) degree. The purpose of this project is to investigate the application of blood flow restriction during exercise, and the training effects that result. There is a body of evidence that demonstrates benefits in muscle size and strength following low-intensity blood flow restriction training, equivalent to that of high-intensity exercise without the blood flow restriction. Studies have utilised several modes of exercise: walking, cycling, and resistance training and a large proportion of this research involves younger, apparently healthy participants, while research into its application in older adults is lacking. It is likely that the benefits would be similar in older adults, and that this would directly improve performance in functional outcome measures representative of improved everyday function. Training with blood flow restriction cuffs at a low-intensity can produce these functional benefits while eliminating the intimidation, potential risk and negative stigma that surrounds high-intensity exercise in populations unlikely to adhere to it, such as older adults and frail adults. This study will utilise functional outcome measures to gauge improvements in lower limb muscle strength following a 6-week blood flow restriction walking program.

Interventions

Intervention: Blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise Training period: 6 weeks Training frequency: 4 days per week Exercise mode: Walking Training intensity/duration: 4 km/h, 10 min BFR is initiated via pneumatic cuffs placed around the limb proximal to the exercising muscle/muscle group that produce an individualized restriction to limb blood flow, but NOT total occlusion to flow. No adverse reactions are noted and participants are supervised/monitored throughout all training sessions to ensure

Study design

Allocation

Randomised controlled trial

Intervention model

Parallel

Primary purpose

Treatment

Masking

Open (masking not used)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

60 Years to 80 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

Age: 60-80 years Weekly Physical Activity: <150 min

Exclusion criteria

Diagnosed cardiovascular disease/uncontrolled hypertension Smokers Weekly Physical Activity: >150 min Obesity

Outcome results