The effects of low-intensity blood flow restricted exercise on the clinical outcomes of young active adults following a 3-week in-patient rehabilitation programme

The effects of low-intensity blood flow restricted exercise versus conventional resistance training exercise on the physical and functional outcomes in UK Military personnel undergoing a 3-week in-patient rehabilitation programme: a randomised controlled trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN63585315

Enrollment

Registered

2017-04-25

Start date

2016-07-02

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-05-19

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

Conditions

Lower limb musculoskeletal sports and training injury (various) Injury, Occupational Diseases, Poisoning

Interventions

Participants are randomised to one of two groups using block randomisation. Intervention 1 - LI-BFR Group: will perform low-intensity RT combined with blood flow restriction using two exercises from

(2) bilateral knee extensions using a knee extension machine (Pulse Fitness, Congleton, UK)

(3) split squat using dumbbells to increase weight. The choice of three exercises mirrors the choice in the conventional high resistance training group of squat, deadlift and dumbbell lunge to avoid b

no pause

and 1s for the eccentric phase of the lift (1:0:1 tempo) to ensure consistency of lifting between patients. This means the total cuff inflation duration is (30reps x2 + 30s + 15reps x2 + 30s +15reps x

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

Male

Age

18 Years to 50 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Male 2. Lower limb injury (ex. Achilles/patellar tendinopathy, anterior knee pain, ACL reconstruction, ankle injuries, projectile/blast-related injury) 3. Age range 18-50 years 4. Serving regular UK Armed Forces personnel

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Female 2. Prior history of cardiovascular disease (ex. hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, thrombosis/embolism, ischaemic heart disease, myocardial infarction) 3. Amputation 4. Peripheral neuropathy 5. History of formally diagnosed mental illness 6. History of formally diagnosed learning disability 7. Brain Injury 8. ACL surgery within the last 4 weeks 9. Surgical insertion of metal components in lower limbs (may affect MRI results)

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
1. Muscle Cross Sectional Area (CSA) will be assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), using a GE Sigma scanner at baseline and day 15 2. Muscle strength will be assessed using a dynamic 5-repetition maximum (5RM) test performed on a bilateral knee extension machine at baseline and day 15	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Functional ability will be assessed using the following standardised tests already in use at the Defence Military Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC), Headley Court at baseline (day 1) and completion (day 15) of the in-patient rehabilitation programme. The specific tests are: 1.1. Multi-stage Fitness Test (MSFT) 1.2. Y-Balance Test 1.3. Figure of 8 Test 2. Pain and Discomfort is assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) immediately prior to starting each scheduled training period during the training period and 5-mins post-exercise	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Functional ability will be assessed using the following standardised tests already in use at the Defence Military Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC), Headley Court at baseline (day 1) and completion (day 15) of the in-patient rehabilitation programme. The specific tests are: 1.1. Multi-stage Fitness Test (MSFT) 1.2. Y-Balance Test 1.3. Figure of 8 Test 2. Pain and Discomfort is assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) immediately prior to starting each scheduled training period during the training period and 5-mins post-exercise

—

Countries

England, United Kingdom

Contacts

Public ContactShreshth Dharm-Datta

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: May 22, 2026