Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 6, 2026
Application of Bedside Lower Extremity Rehabilitation Robots in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Published on: November 28, 2025
Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Lower Limb Motor Function and Balance in Individuals With Stroke: A
Fenghao Ma1, Qian Qian1, Taiyang Liu1
1Department of Neurology and Neurological Rehabilitation, Shanghai Disabled Persons' Federation Key Laboratory of Intelligent Rehabilitation Assistive Devices and Technologies, Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai.
Objective:
To evaluate the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) training, delivered as BFR‑walking or low‑load resistance training with BFR (LL‑BFR), on lower limb motor function and balance in stroke survivors.
Design:
A single-blind randomized controlled trial.
Setting:
Inpatient intensive rehabilitation unit.
Participants:
Ninety-six patients (N=96) with stroke had a mean (SD) age of 55.80 (13.17) years, and 27% were women.
Interventions:
Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1:1 ratio to undergo a 3-week intervention (5sessions/wk) consisting of either walking without BFR (Control), BFR-walking (120mmHg cuff pressure), or LL-BFR (120mmHg low-load resistance training at 20% one-repetition maximum). All received concurrent standard rehabilitation.
Main Outcome Measures:
The primary outcome was the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity (FMA-LE), with secondary outcomes including the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), timed Up and Go Test (TUG), 30-Second Sit-to-Stand Test (30sSTS), and limits of stability.
Results:
Significant group × time interactions were found for FMA‑LE (F [2, 93.054] =8.418; P<.001; η²p=0.153), BBS (F [2, 93.000]=4.615; P=.012; η²p=0.090), TUG (F [2, 93.000]=9.121; P<.001; η²p=0.164), and 30sSTS (F [2, 93.000]=26.020; P<.001; η²p=0.359). Both BFR‑Walking (adjusted mean difference vs control: 1.66 points; 95% CI, 0.27-3.04; P=.010) and LL‑BFR (2.25 points; 95% CI, 0.86-3.64; P<.001) showed greater FMA‑LE improvements than control, with no difference between BFR modalities (P=.165). Both BFR groups outperformed control on BBS, TUG, and 30sSTS (all P<.05). Responder analysis showed 34.4% of LL‑BFR participants achieved the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) for FMA-LE (≥4 points) versus 15.6% in control (P=.04). No serious adverse events occurred.
Conclusions:
A 3‑week BFR‑walking or LL‑BFR regimen improved balance and mobility beyond conventional training. Although the average improvement is modest, a significantly greater number of patients may achieve clinically meaningful improvement, warranting larger, longer‑term trials before routine clinical use.