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AzTrials

Anterior Cruciate Ligament RuptureBFRNCT03758755

Blood Flow Restriction Following ACL Reconstruction

A study testing Blood Flow Restriction Therapy and ACL Reconstruction rehabilitation in people with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture, run by Inova Health Care Services at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The main objective is to determine the impact of Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) therapy, in comparison to a standard rehabilitation protocol, on preventing atrophy, improving quadriceps strength and improving functional outcomes of patients recovering from ACL reconstruction. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 13 to 50 years
Conditions the study is for
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture
What is being tested?
Blood Flow Restriction Therapy and ACL Reconstruction rehabilitation
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
49 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
1 Nov 2018to 26 Oct 2022
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 13 to 50 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age 13-35 years at the time of surgery
  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction
  • Using a physical therapy center with Blood Flow Restriction capabilities.

Who cannot join

  • Concomitant ligament reconstruction
  • Concurrent procedures that require delayed weight bearing (ie: High Tibial Osteotomy (HTO), multi-ligament reconstruction, microfracture, etc)
  • History of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)/Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
  • Immunocompromising conditions (ie: Rheumatoid arthritis, chronic steroid use, etc.)
  • History of coagulation disorders or current use of anticoagulants
  • Completion of physical therapy at a location not affiliated with the study
  • Pregnancy

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Inova Health System

    Fairfax, Virginia, 22031

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: The Effect of Blood Flow Restriction Therapy Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

The main objective is to determine the impact of Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) therapy, in comparison to a standard rehabilitation protocol, on preventing atrophy, improving quadriceps strength and improving functional outcomes of patients recovering from ACL reconstruction. The investigators hypothesize that patients undergoing BFR therapy after ACL reconstruction surgery will have better functional outcomes than those undergoing normal rehabilitation without BFR therapy.

Read the detailed description

Recovery from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction involves early physical therapy to promote muscular development. Traditional training regimens are based on the concept that muscle growth is induced with high resistance exercises of at least 65-70% of 1-repetition maximum. Achieving a high resistance level can be challenging in the early post-surgical patient who may be limited by pain, muscle atrophy, diminished proprioception, and psychological factors. Increasing evidence has suggested that Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) in resistance training, while transmitting a decreased load (25-50% of 1-repetition maximum) across the surgical site, may provide an additional benefit of inducing muscular development similar to that of high intensity exercises .

Augmenting exercises with BFR involves an external pressure cuff applied to the proximal portion of the extremity, which is inflated to a pressure that restricts venous outflow while allowing arterial inflow to continue. This creates a physiologic environment for the patient to gain the hypertrophic effect of high resistance training, though at a lower and safer intensity. Studies suggest that BFR stimulates muscular development through an increase in metabolic stress, muscle fiber recruitment, cell swelling, and protein synthesis.

Being tested
Blood Flow Restriction Therapy, ACL Reconstruction rehabilitation
Keywords
BFR, ACL, rehabilitation
Medical subject headings
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Blood Flow Restriction TherapyDevice

    A wide pressure cuff will be applied to the upper thigh prior to starting strengthening exercises. The cuff is inflated to 80% of resting systolic blood pressure. The cuff remains inflated for the entirety of the exercise (4 sets of a specific movement). Once the exercises are completed, it is deflated for a minimum of one minute before the next type of exercises are started.

  • ACL Reconstruction rehabilitationOther

    post-operative rehabilitation according to current standards of care

Study groups in NCT03758755
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
BFR TherapyExperimentalThis group will undergo physical therapy exercises per the standard of care, with the addition of Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) utilizing a wide pressure cuff. BFR exercises will be initiated two weeks post-op, and continued for 16 weeks.
Receives: Device: Blood Flow Restriction Therapy; Other: ACL Reconstruction rehabilitation
No BFRActive comparatorThis group of patients will undergo physical therapy exercises per the current standard of care after their ACL reconstruction without BFR
Receives: Other: ACL Reconstruction rehabilitation

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Questionnaire Score

    The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC Questionnaire) is a knee-specific patient-reported outcome measure. The IKDC Questionnaire is a subjective scale that provides patients with an overall function score. The questionnaire looks at 3 categories: symptoms, sports activity, and knee function. Scores are obtained by summing the individual items, then transforming the crude total to a scaled number that ranges from 0 to 100. This final number is interpreted as a measure of function with higher scores representing higher levels of function.

    Measured: Measured preoperatively and at 12 weeks post-op.

  2. Visual Analog Score

    The visual analog scale (VAS) is a validated, subjective measure for acute and chronic pain. Scores are recorded by making a handwritten mark on a 10-cm line that represents a continuum between "no pain" and "worst pain," with "no pain" corresponding to a VAS score of 0 and "worst pain" corresponding to a VAS score of 10.

    Measured: Measured preoperatively, at 2-weeks post-op, 6 weeks post-op, and 12 weeks post-op

  3. Quadriceps Tendon Strength

    We will measure quadriceps tendon strength (closed chain) strength using a hand-held dynamometer placed just distal to the knee joint on the posterior calf with the patient in the supine position. The outcome will be reported biweekly as a percentage of the strength of the contralateral side, and then finally reported as a change in strength from the first measurement to the final measurement. The results reported in this data table refer to the percent strength of the operated leg when compared to the contralateral side. The change in strength results can be found in the statistical analysis section.

    Measured: Tracked from initiation of therapy 2 weeks post-op through 12 weeks post-op.

  4. Thigh Circumference

    A tape measure will be used to measure the thigh circumference 15 cm proximal to the superior pole of the patella. The outcome will be reported biweekly as a percentage of the contralateral side, and then finally reported as a change in circumference from the first measurement to the final measurement. The results reported in this data table refer to the percent circumference of the operated leg when compared to the contralateral side. The change in circumference results can be found in the statistical analysis section.

    Measured: Tracked in the perioperative week and then from initiation of therapy 2 weeks post-op through 12 weeks post-op.

  5. Degrees of Knee Flexion

    Degrees of knee flexion will be measured on the operative side by a licensed physical therapist. The outcome will be reported biweekly and then finally reported as a change in degrees from the first measurement to the final measurement. The results reported in this data table refer to the degrees of knee flexion at each reported time point. The change in knee flexion results can be found in the statistical analysis section.

    Measured: Tracked in the perioperative week and then from initiation of therapy 2 weeks post-op through 12 weeks post-op.

  6. Degrees of Knee Extension

    Degrees of knee extension will be measured on the operative side by a licensed physical therapist, with zero degrees indicating the knee completely at extension and negative degrees indicating degrees of hyperextension. The outcome will be reported biweekly and then finally reported as a change in degrees from the first measurement to the final measurement. The results reported in this data table refer to the degrees of knee extension at each reported time point. The change in knee extension results can be found in the statistical analysis section.

    Measured: Tracked in the perioperative week and then from initiation of therapy 2 weeks post-op through 12 weeks post-op.

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Adverse Effects

    Observation of any adverse events associated with BFR therapy, such as numbness, cuff-site pain, and bruising.

    Measured: Tracked from initiation of therapy 2 weeks post-op through 12 weeks post-op

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted29 Nov 2018
  2. Study start1 Nov 2018
  3. Primary completion1 Nov 2021
  4. Study completion26 Oct 2022

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
49 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03758755
Sponsor's protocol ID
18-3150
Acronym
BFR
Status last verified
Nov 2022
First submitted
14 Nov 2018
Last updated
22 Dec 2022
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Hughes L, Paton B, Rosenblatt B, Gissane C, Patterson SD. Blood flow restriction training in clinical musculoskeletal rehabilitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2017 Jul;51(13):1003-1011. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-097071. Epub 2017 Mar 4.

    PubMed 28259850
  • Iversen E, Rostad V, Larmo A. Intermittent blood flow restriction does not reduce atrophy following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. J Sport Health Sci. 2016 Mar;5(1):115-118. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2014.12.005. Epub 2015 Apr 18.

    PubMed 30356481
  • Ohta H, Kurosawa H, Ikeda H, Iwase Y, Satou N, Nakamura S. Low-load resistance muscular training with moderate restriction of blood flow after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Acta Orthop Scand. 2003 Feb;74(1):62-8. doi: 10.1080/00016470310013680.

    PubMed 12635796
  • Scott BR, Loenneke JP, Slattery KM, Dascombe BJ. Blood flow restricted exercise for athletes: A review of available evidence. J Sci Med Sport. 2016 May;19(5):360-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2015.04.014. Epub 2015 May 9.

    PubMed 26118847
  • Suga T, Okita K, Takada S, Omokawa M, Kadoguchi T, Yokota T, Hirabayashi K, Takahashi M, Morita N, Horiuchi M, Kinugawa S, Tsutsui H. Effect of multiple set on intramuscular metabolic stress during low-intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2012 Nov;112(11):3915-20. doi: 10.1007/s00421-012-2377-x. Epub 2012 Mar 14.

    PubMed 22415101
  • Takada S, Okita K, Suga T, Omokawa M, Morita N, Horiuchi M, Kadoguchi T, Takahashi M, Hirabayashi K, Yokota T, Kinugawa S, Tsutsui H. Blood flow restriction exercise in sprinters and endurance runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2012 Mar;44(3):413-9. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e31822f39b3.

    PubMed 21795999
  • Takarada Y, Takazawa H, Sato Y, Takebayashi S, Tanaka Y, Ishii N. Effects of resistance exercise combined with moderate vascular occlusion on muscular function in humans. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2000 Jun;88(6):2097-106. doi: 10.1152/jappl.2000.88.6.2097.

    PubMed 10846023
  • Yasuda T, Brechue WF, Fujita T, Shirakawa J, Sato Y, Abe T. Muscle activation during low-intensity muscle contractions with restricted blood flow. J Sports Sci. 2009 Mar;27(5):479-89. doi: 10.1080/02640410802626567.

    PubMed 19253083

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Blood Flow Restriction Therapy and ACL Reconstruction rehabilitation in people with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture, run by Inova Health Care Services at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Dec 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 22 Dec 2022). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Questionnaire Score (time frame: Measured preoperatively and at 12 weeks post-op.). The study lists 6 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03758755, which also lists 8 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Dec 2022.

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