The Impact of Blood Flow Restriction Training in Adolescents After ACL Reconstruction: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries, Knee Injuries, Quadriceps Muscle Atrophy

In brief

While there are a number studies that have reported on the use of blood flow restriction training (BFRT) in the adult population, there is limited information about the use of BFRT in the adolescent population. This study aims to evaluate the use of BFRT in conjunction with traditional anterior ligament reconstruction (ACLR) rehabilitation in adolescents. The purpose of this study is to compare the addition of a BFRT based exercise protocol to a standard ACL rehabilitation protocol in adolescents. Does the addition of BFRT-based exercise improve strength, hypertrophy, and patient reported outcomes after ACLR in the adolescent population?

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05754632

Run by

Connecticut Children's Medical Center

People needed

40

Starts

2023-06-08

Expected to finish

2029-05-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-01-07

Who can join

Age: 12 and older, up to 18. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Prior to surgery participated in >50 hours/year of level I or II sports as defined by Noyes et al and planned to return to prior level.
• Level I Sports (4-7 days/week) Jumping, hard pivoting, cutting (basketball, volleyball,football, soccer, gymnastics, skiing. wrestling)
• Level II sports (1-3 days/week) Jumping, hard pivoting, cutting (basketball, volleyball,football, soccer, gymnastics, skiing. wrestling)
• Completion of postoperative rehabilitation following standard protocols
• Orthopedic surgical intervention and physical therapy completed at Connecticut Children's.

You may not qualify if…

• An additional lower extremity injury at time of knee injury or previous surgical intervention on the knee (ipsilateral and contralateral)
• Multiple ligament ruptures or trauma
• Weight bearing restrictions for greater than 4 weeks after surgery due to concomitant pathology such as meniscal root/radial repair, chondral pathology, or multi-ligament pathology
• Follow-up surgical procedures including, but not limited to, post-operative arthrofibrosis Inability to attend regular physical therapy sessions (≥80% of patient treatment sessions and all assessment visits
• Contraindications to performing BFRT including known history of central or peripheral neurologic impairments, cardiac or metabolic condition or history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Where it is running

• Connecticut Children's Sports Physical Therapy — Farmington, Connecticut, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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