Effect of Low-Load Blood Flow Restriction Training on Patients With Functional Ankle Instability: A Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Functional ankle instability (FAI) is characterized by decreased muscle strength and balance.
• Ankle strength training is effective for FAI, but evidence on low-load blood flow restriction (LL-BFR) training is limited.
• LL-BFR training has shown potential for increasing muscle size and strength.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effects of LL-BFR training versus high-load training (HLT) on muscle strength and balance in FAI patients.
• To evaluate the efficacy of LL-BFR as an alternative training method for FAI.
• To investigate the time course of strength and balance improvements with LL-BFR.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 46 young adults with a history of FAI.
• Participants underwent either LL-BFR (20-40% 1RM) or HLT (70-85% 1RM) ankle training twice weekly for six weeks.
• Muscle strength (plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, inversion, eversion), muscle thickness (tibialis anterior, triceps surae, peroneus longus), and dynamic balance (Y-balance test) were assessed at baseline, 3, and 6 weeks.

Main Results:

• Both LL-BFR and HLT significantly improved muscle strength, muscle thickness, and Y-balance scores compared to baseline.
• No significant differences in strength, muscle thickness, or balance were observed between LL-BFR and HLT groups at 6 weeks.
• At 3 weeks, LL-BFR demonstrated significantly greater improvements in eversion strength and Y-balance scores compared to HLT.

Conclusions:

• LL-BFR training is as effective as HLT for improving ankle muscle strength, thickness, and balance in FAI patients over a 6-week period.
• LL-BFR offers advantages in the early stages of rehabilitation, showing more rapid improvements in eversion strength and dynamic balance.
• LL-BFR presents a promising new intervention strategy for the clinical rehabilitation of FAI patients.