A study on the effect of blood flow restriction training on the recovery of lower limb motor function in stroke...

To investigate the effect of blood flow restriction training (BFRT) on lower limb motor function recovery in stroke patients with hemiplegia.

In this parallel-group, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial, 80 patients with first-ever stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) were enrolled. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either routine rehabilitation (RR group, n = 40) or routine rehabilitation plus BFRT (RR + BFRT group, n = 40) for 8 weeks (5 days/week). Assessments performed before and after the intervention included the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the Lower Extremity (FMA-LE), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) for key lower limb muscles.

Baseline characteristics and all outcome measures were comparable between the two groups (all P > 0.05). After the intervention, both groups showed significant within-group improvements in FMA-LE, BBS, MBI, 6MWT, and MMT scores (all P < 0.05). The RR + BFRT group demonstrated significantly greater improvement than the RR group in FMA-LE, BBS, MBI, 6MWT, and MMT scores for the iliopsoas, quadriceps, and hamstrings (all P < 0.05). No between-group difference was found for tibialis anterior muscle strength (P > 0.05).

Adjunctive BFRT can effectively enhance lower limb motor function, balance, walking capacity, and muscle strength in stroke patients with hemiplegia, leading to greater functional independence. BFRT appears to be a beneficial adjunct to routine stroke rehabilitation.