Low-load resistance muscular training with moderate restriction of blood flow after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
We performed a prospective study to determine the effects of introducing low-load muscular training with moderate restriction of blood flow during the first 16 weeks after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. 44 subjects (average age 29 (18-52) years) were randomized into a group that trained restriction of blood flow (group R, n = 22) and a group that trained without restriction (group N, n = 22). Both groups followed the same training schedule. Evaluations of knee extensor and flexor torques before surgery and 16 weeks after it showed a significant increase in muscular strength in group R as compared to group N. The preoperative/16-week postoperative ratio of the cross-sectional area of the knee extensor muscles showed a statistically significant enlargement in group R as compared to group N. 16 weeks after surgery, the short diameters of type 1 and type 2 fibers of M. vastus lateralis tended to be larger in group R (n = 8) than in group N (n = 8), although the differences were not significant. These findings show that low-load resistance muscular training during moderate restriction of blood flow is an effective exercise for early muscular training after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament.
Ohta
Haruyasu
H
Departments of Orthopaedics, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Hongo 2-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan.
Kurosawa
Hisashi
H
Ikeda
Hiroshi
H
Iwase
Yoshiyuki
Y
Satou
Naohiro
N
Nakamura
Shinji
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001284:Atrophy; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow