Blood Flow Restriction Training for Falls Risk in Older Adults

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Concordia University, Montreal

Must not be taking: Steroidal drugs

Disqualifiers: Chronic disease, Blood clot, Varicose veins, Excessive physical activity, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 23

Duration: 10 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if blood flow restriction bands used during low-intensity resistance training can boost strength and improve oxygen consumption in seniors. It targets older adults who want to stay active and are concerned about falls or frailty. Participants will join online exercise sessions twice a week for 10 weeks. Seniors aged 60 or older who can attend testing at the Loyola campus might be a good fit. The study will compare two groups: one using blood flow restriction bands and another performing the same exercises without them. As an unphased trial, this study offers seniors a chance to contribute to research that could enhance fitness and reduce fall risk.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are using steroidal drugs, you would not be eligible to participate.

What prior data suggests that blood flow restriction training is safe for older adults?

Research has shown that blood flow restriction training with light exercises is generally safe for older adults. Studies have found that this type of training can boost muscle strength and maintain muscle health without major risks.

In various studies, participants handled blood flow restriction training well, with few reports of serious side effects. The most common issues included mild discomfort or slight muscle soreness, typical of any exercise routine.

These findings suggest that blood flow restriction training combined with light resistance exercises offers a safe option for older adults seeking to improve muscle strength and function. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about blood flow restriction (BFR) training for reducing falls risk in older adults because it offers a novel approach by combining low-intensity resistance exercises with blood flow restriction. Traditional treatments for fall prevention often involve high-intensity exercises, which may not be suitable for all seniors. BFR allows for muscle strengthening with much lighter weights, potentially making it safer and more accessible for older populations. This method is particularly promising because it could enhance muscle strength and endurance without the strain of heavier, more intense workouts.

What evidence suggests that blood flow restriction is effective for improving strength and oxygen consumption in older adults?

Research has shown that using blood flow restriction (BFR) with light exercise can help older adults gain strength and improve mobility. In this trial, one group will undergo low-intensity resistance training with BFR, while the control group will perform the same exercises without BFR. Studies have found that BFR not only builds muscle but also enhances balance and mobility, which are crucial for preventing falls. For example, reviews have noted that BFR can increase muscle strength and ability, even with lighter weights. Additionally, this approach has been linked to better heart health and might help counteract muscle loss with age. Overall, BFR training offers an effective way to enhance exercise benefits without the need to lift heavy weights. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for seniors aged 60 and older who are at risk of falling. It's designed to help them improve muscle strength and functionality without heavy weights. Participants must be able to attend twice-weekly resistance training classes via Zoom from their homes.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 60 years old or older.

I can visit the Loyola campus for all required tests.

I am willing to do two online exercise sessions weekly for 10 weeks.

Exclusion Criteria

Participation in excessive physical activity (over 3-4 hours a week of moderate to high intensity training)

I do not have any planned absences in the next 10 weeks.

I have a long-term illness, but not high blood pressure.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo 10 weeks of online resistance training, with one group using blood flow restriction bands and a control group without restriction

10 weeks

20 sessions (virtual)

Assessment

Strength and functional tests are conducted before, at midpoint, and after the 10-week intervention using BIODEX and VO2 non-invasive mask

10 weeks

3 assessment points (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Blood flow restrictions in combination with low-intensity resistance training

Trial Overview The study tests if blood flow restriction bands used during low-intensity resistance exercises can enhance muscle growth, bone density, and oxygen consumption in the elderly compared to regular training without these bands over a period of 10 weeks.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Blood flow restriction Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This group with undergo online low-intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction twice per week

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

This group with undergo online low-intensity resistance training twice per week

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Concordia University, Montreal

Lead Sponsor

Trials

30

Recruited

5,200+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) can be beneficial for rehabilitation but poses risks such as increased blood pressure and adverse cardiovascular responses, especially in individuals with pre-existing conditions like hypertension and diabetes.

To ensure safety, a risk stratification tool is recommended for clinicians to assess patients' medical histories and identify those who may be at higher risk for complications when undergoing BFRT.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Useful Blood Flow Restriction Training Risk Stratification for Exercise and Rehabilitation. Nascimento, DDC., Rolnick, N., Neto, IVS., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7716683/

Effect of blood-flow restriction exercise on falls and ... This systematic review investigated the effect of low-load resistance training combined with blood-flow restriction (LL-BFR) on falls in older adults ≥60 years ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266633762500109X

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Blood Flow Restriction ... These reviews generally focus on three main outcomes: muscle strength, hypertrophy, and functional capacity. For strength, some meta-analyses ...

3. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41598-024-79506-9

Effectiveness of low-load resistance training with blood ... This study suggested that LRT-BFR and CRT are beneficial to the clinical muscle outcomes, CVD risk factors and certain sarcopenia-related biomarkers of older ...

4. mdpi.com mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/10/1325

Effect of Blood Flow Restriction on Gait and Mobility in ... The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effect of BFR on gait and mobility in healthy older adults.

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11380551/

A Review of the Efficacy and Mechanisms of Blood Flow ... This paper explores the possibility of BFRT in preventing falls in older adults by analyzing its positive effects on muscle mass, balance function, and ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12066469/

Effect of different blood flow restriction training regimens ... Previous studies have shown that blood flow restriction (BFR) combined with low-intensity training can improve muscle strength and maintain ...

7. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2077-0383/14/12/4185

Exploring Blood Flow Restriction Exercise Protocols for ... Conclusions: The existing evidence suggests that BFRT may be a promising intervention for improving muscle health and functionality in older adults; however, ...