A scoping review on outcomes, interventions and cuff parameters for blood flow restriction training in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

The most common type of arthritis that alters a joint's mechanical and structural properties is osteoarthritis (OA). A new and promising non-pharmacological strategy for treating OA that has received recent attention is a combination of resistance training with blood flow restriction training (BFRT). This paper aims to identify the outcomes and outcome measures used for studying BFRT in knee OA, and to evaluate the cuff parameters and BFRT intervention used.The scoping review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. The review was based on material from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Physiotherapy Evidence Database and PubMed.Eight studies were included. The range of outcomes used in the study were knee pain, function, strength, quadriceps cross-sectional area, quality of life, disease severity, growth hormone level, and range of motion. The included studies used interventions ranging from four to five sets of 10 to 15 repetitions at 20% to 30% of 1 repetition maximum load; progressive blood restriction ranged from 30%-80% of arterial occlusion pressure when the cuff was placed at the most proximal part of the thigh.When used with appropriate parameters, low-intensity exercise training combined with blood flow restriction (BFR) is a viable alternative to traditional strategies for improving pain, strength, muscle mass, hormone levels, functionality, range of motion, and overall quality of life among patients with knee OA.