Blood flow Restriction training After patellar INStability (BRAINS Trial)

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Patellar instability is a prevalent condition affecting athletes and military personnel, with a high risk of post-traumatic osteoarthritis.
• Current conservative treatments lack evidence-informed guidelines for rehabilitation.
• There is a critical need for effective interventions to restore function and protect joint health after patellar dislocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of blood-flow restriction training (BFRT) for managing patellar instability.
• To determine if BFRT improves patient-reported outcomes, strength, and knee biomechanics.
• To evaluate BFRT's potential to facilitate a safe return to activity.

Main Methods:

• A parallel-group, superiority, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial involving 78 patients with acute patellar dislocations.
• Participants were allocated to receive either standard physical therapy with BFRT or sham BFRT for up to 9 weeks.
• Primary outcomes included the Norwich Patellar Instability Scale, quadriceps strength, and biomarkers of cartilage degradation.

Main Results:

• N/A - Results not yet available as this is a study design abstract.

Conclusions:

• The standard of care for patellar instability is variable and may not fully restore function or protect cartilage.
• Blood-flow restriction training (BFRT) presents a novel, implementable therapy to potentially enhance recovery.
• This study aims to provide evidence for BFRT's efficacy in improving outcomes and joint health in the first year post-injury.