A NEW study has shown that integrating blood flow restriction (BFR) into traditional exercise programs significantly improves outcomes for patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), a leading cause of disability worldwide. Conducted at Ghent University Hospital, this randomised controlled trial demonstrated that BFR-enhanced exercises yield greater benefits in pain relief, muscle strength, and quality of life compared to conventional exercises alone.
The study involved 120 KOA patients who were randomly assigned to either a traditional exercise program or a program incorporating BFR over 24 sessions across 12 weeks. The BFR group showed notable improvements on the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) in pain reduction, knee strength, and functional ability by the end of the 12-week program. At a 3-month follow-up, the BFR group continued to exhibit superior outcomes in pain, symptom management, and quality of life, with sustained benefits in secondary measures like strength and function.
Results indicated that the BFR approach, which restricts blood flow during low-load exercises, allows for muscle gains and pain relief without heavy mechanical stress. This provides KOA patients a gentler yet effective path to regaining function and maintaining an active lifestyle.
These findings support BFR as a valuable addition to KOA rehabilitation, suggesting that it may help patients improve mobility, reduce pain, and enhance long-term quality of life, even beyond the supervised intervention period.
Reference
Jacobs E et al. Vascular occlusion for optimising the functional improvement in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2024;DOI: 10.1136/ard-2024-226579.
