The effect of low‐load resistance training with blood flow restriction on chronic patellar tendinopathy — A case series. Issue 4 (20th March 2020) - Skovlund, Sebastian V.
Abstract : Heavy controlled loads of tendon with prolonged time under tension remain the treatment of choice in tendinopathy rehabilitation. The use of low‐load resistance exercise (LL, 20%‐40% 1‐RM) in combination with blood flow restriction (BFR) has been advocated as a clinically important rehabilitation tool for persons not tolerating high muscle‐tendon loads. Similar or improved clinical outcomes have been reported after LL‐BFR compared to conventional rehabilitation following various types of knee injury, and also compared to load‐matched, free‐flow exercise. LL‐BFR augments muscular adaptations and is comparably effective for inducing muscle hypertrophy and strength gains compared to heavy‐load resistance training. The present study aimed to investigate the feasibility and effect of LL‐BFR as a rehabilitation tool in individuals with chronic unilateral patellar tendinopathy. The results demonstrated that (a) 3 weeks LL‐BFR was well tolerated with moderate‐large pain improvements (Likert), (b) pain scoring (NRS) was reduced by 50% during single‐leg decline squat testing, and (c) tendon vascularity diminished by 31% following 3 weeks (9 sessions) of LL‐BFR. These novel data demonstrate substantial clinical and structural tendon improvements with short‐term (3 weeks) LL‐BFR, which warrant further research into the potential efficacy of LL‐BFR as a clinical rehabilitation tool in patients with chronic tendinopathy.