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Blood flow restriction walking and physical function in older adults: a randomized control trial
journal contribution
posted on 2017-12-01, 00:00 authored by Matthew Clarkson, Louise ConwayLouise Conway, Stuart WarmingtonStuart WarmingtonOBJECTIVES: The progressive age-related declines in muscle health and physical function in older adults are related to muscle size and strength. Walking with an applied blood flow restriction is an alternative to maintain muscle volume in older adults to increase the value for time spent walking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of adding blood flow restriction to low-intensity walking on clinical measures of physical function. DESIGN/METHODS: Sedentary older men and women were randomised to either a low-intensity blood flow restriction walking group (BFRW; n=10), or a non-blood flow restriction walking control group (CON; n=9). Participants were assessed at baseline, three-weeks and six-weeks for the 30second sit to stand, six-minute walk test, timed up and go, and a modified Queen's College step test. While a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) for training sessions at baseline, three-weeks and six-weeks. RESULTS: BFRW typically resulted in a 2.5-4.5 fold greater improvement in performance on all measures of physical function compared with CON among these older adults. However, RPE was greater for BFRW at all time points (for baseline, three-weeks, six-weeks: 14±0; 11±0; 11±0) compared with CON (8±0; 7±0; 8±0), despite declining across the study for BFRW. CONCLUSIONS: The greater improvement in physical function with blood flow restriction demonstrates how this addition can increase the quality of simple walking exercise for populations that may be contraindicated to heavy-load resistance training.
History
Journal
Journal of science and medicine in sportVolume
20Issue
12Pagination
1041 - 1046Publisher
ElsevierLocation
Amsterdam, The NetherlandsPublisher DOI
ISSN
1440-2440eISSN
1878-1861Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2017, Sports Medicine AustraliaUsage metrics
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