Blood Flow Restriction After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR)

Summary

Muscle strength and muscle volume decrease rapidly with the immobilization process after sports-related injury and surgery. Depending on the decrease in muscle strength and muscle volume, functional performance also deteriorates, and this has been demonstrated by studies in the literature. Despite rehabilitation programs after anterior cruciate ligament surgery, muscle weakness persists for a long time and this affects knee functions. As a result, the time to return to sports is delayed or the activity level decreases. In recent studies, cross training is used to gain strength. Cross training is the increase in strength in the untrained leg after unilateral strengthening of the untrained leg. Another popular application for strength gain is exercise training with blood flow restriction. Blood flow restriction exercise training is an exercise protocol based on external pressure restriction of blood flow through the cuff from the proximal of the target muscle. It has been shown that this training prevents reduction of muscle volume in the early postoperative period and increases muscle strength. In the literature, cross-training and blood flow-restricted training are applied separately for muscle strength development after ACL reconstruction. However, no study investigating the effect of the combined application of these two approaches on muscle strength during ACL rehabilitation has been found. It is thought that with the combined application of these approaches, their effects on muscle strength development will increase, and accordingly, the functional results of individuals will be positively affected. The aim of the study is to determine the effect of cross training applied with and without blood flow restriction on muscle strength and function for 8 weeks starting from the 4th week after anterior cruciate ligament surgery. Participants will be included in the training for a total of 16 sessions, 2 days a week for 8 weeks. Pain, muscle strength, muscle thickness, knee functions will be evaluated before and after the training.

Conditions

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture
• Quadriceps Muscle Atrophy

Interventions

OTHER

Cross-education and blood flow restriction training

Cross-education (training of the non-surgical leg) will be given to the participants in addition to the standard rehabilitation program after surgery. This training will be applied with isokinetic system that can be used safely in the rehabilitation field. During this training, a cuff will be worn from the upper part of the thigh muscles, as in the blood pressure devices, which will slow down the blood flow in the leg. The participant will be cross-educated with the cuff inflated to a safe pressure range that will not cause discomfort. Participants will be included in the training for a total of 16 sessions, 2 days a week for 8 weeks. Each session, cross-education will be applied as 3 sets of 12 repetitions. Pain, muscle strength, muscle thickness, knee functions will be evaluated before and after the training.

OTHER

Cross-education

Cross-education (training of the non-surgical leg) will be given to the participants in addition to the standard rehabilitation program after surgery. This training will be applied with isokinetic system that can be used safely in the rehabilitation field. Participants will be included in the training for a total of 16 sessions, 2 days a week for 8 weeks. Each session, cross-education will be applied as 3 sets of 12 repetitions. Pain, muscle strength, muscle thickness, knee functions will be evaluated before and after the training.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hacettepe University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

45 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-08-30

Primary Completion

2023-11-01

Completion

2024-03-01

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations