Blood Flow Restricted Walking in Patients Suffering from Intermittent Claudication: a Case Series Feasibility and Safety Study

Overview

Journal Ann Med Surg (Lond)

Publisher Wolters Kluwer

Specialty Medical Education

Date 2023 May 25

PMID 37229056

Authors

Andreas Bentzen

Line B Nisgaard

Rikke B L Mikkelsen

Annette Hogh

Inger Mechlenburg

Stian L Jorgensen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Materials And Methods: Sixteen patients with IC were recruited from two departments of vascular surgery. The BFR-W programme implied the application of a pneumatic cuff around the proximal part of the affected limb at 60% limb occlusion pressure in five intervals of 2 min, four times per week for 12 weeks. Feasibility was evaluated by adherence and completion rates of the BFR-W programme. Safety was evaluated by adverse events, ankle-brachial index (ABI) at baseline and follow-up, and pain on a numerical rating scale (NRS pain) before and 2 min after training sessions. Furthermore, changes in performance between baseline and follow-up were evaluated with the 30 seconds sit-to-stand test (30STS), the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and the IC questionnaire (ICQ).

Results: Fifteen out of 16 patients completed the 12-week BFR-W programme and adherence was 92.8% (95% CI: 83.4; 100%). One adverse event unrelated to the intervention was reported causing one patient to terminate the programme 2 weeks prematurely. Mean NRS pain 2 min following BFR-W was 1.8 (95% CI [1.7-2]). ABI, 30STS, 6MWT and ICQ score were improved at follow-up.

Conclusions: BFR-W is feasible and appears to be safe in terms of completion rate, adherence to the training protocol, and adverse events in patients with IC. Further investigation of the effectiveness and safety of BFR-W compared to regular walking exercise is needed.

Citing Articles

Feasibility of Blood Flow Restriction Exercise in Adults with a Non-surgically Treated Achilles Tendon Rupture; a Case Series.

Bentzen A, Jorgensen S, Birch S, Mortensen L, Toft M, Lindvig M Int J Exerc Sci. 2024; 17(3):140-153.

PMID: 38665686 PMC: 11042897. DOI: 10.70252/QGAF3184.

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