Unit:
Specialty "Exercise & Health"Library of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Gkikopoulos Giorgo
Supervisors info:
Γεώργιος Γεωργούδης, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Φυσικοθεραπείας, ΠΑΔΑ, Επιβλέπων
Παναγιώτης Κουλουβάρης, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Χαρίλαος Τσολάκης, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Επιστήμης Φυσικής Αγωγής και Αθλητισμού, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Η επίδραση της μεθόδου περιορισμού αιματικής ροής (BFR) στη στατική και δυναμική ισορροπία
Translated title:
The effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) on static and dynamic balance
Summary:
Background: Blood flow restriction (BFR) is a very popular method of training widely used by physical therapists and other clinicians to help improve muscle strength and hypertrophy in patients with musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. While there are numerous studies examining the effects of BFR on improving muscle strength and reducing pain, little is known on how it can affect static and dynamic balance. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of BFR on postural control during static and dynamic balance exercises.
Methods: We utilized a crossover research design. Thirty healthy adults volunteered for this study, without previous musculoskeletal injuries in their lower extremities for the last 2 years and without previous experience with BFR training. The participants performed static and dynamic balance tests on a Freestep baropodometric platform, which recorded the oscillations of the center of pressure (COP). These tests were the single leg stance (SLS) and the modified star excursion balance test (m-SEBT) at the 80% of the maximal reach of each direction, and were performed with and without BFR for both legs. Sway length in millimeters (mm) and ratings of perceived exertion were assessed.
Results: We observed significantly higher sway length (P<.001) and greater ratings of perceived exertion (P<.001) in all of the measurements, both static and dynamic, with the BFR condition compared to control, all associated with small to large effect sizes.
Conclusions: BFR can disrupt the postural control of healthy adults during its application. This study may provide some details about the malfunction of the proprioceptive receptors during BFR training, and give clinicians the option to use the BFR method as a tool to challenge the sensorimotor system, similarly to exercising on unstable surfaces or having the patient close their eyes.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
BFR, Balance, Baropodometric platform
