Static And Dynamic Postural Stability In Healthy Individuals Following Blood Flow Restriction Training

Purpose: To determine if blood flow restriction training (BFRT) negatively impacts dynamic and static postural stability (PS) in healthy individuals immediately and 15 minutes after exercise. Methods: 25 healthy adults (age 25 ± 3 yrs; 60% men) performed 4 BFRT sessions of dominant leg (DL) single leg heel raises followed by split squats. Dynamic PS, measured while performing the anterior reach test, and static PS in single leg stance x 20 seconds, were assessed on the DL and non-dominant leg (NDL) prior to, immediately following, and 15 minutes after BFRT. 80% arterial occlusion pressure was applied at the proximal thigh of the DL during all BFRT sessions. Center of pressure (CoP) sway path length and velocity were quantified for all 3 time points. Results: Initial findings of CoP assessment during the ANT reach (Dyanmic PS) indicated lower variability in the immediate post-BFRT period in the DL (435 mm vs. 417 mm) when compared to an increase in the NDL (438.8 mm vs. 446.8 mm) during the first training session with return to baseline by 15 min. By the fourth training session the BFR trained limb demonstrated improvement in dynamic PS compared to untrained NDL with no immediate post-BFRT decrease in CoP velocity. Static CoP excursion increased immediately following BFRT in both the DL (53.4 cm vs. 61 cm) and NDL (48 cm vs. 52.8 cm) with return to baseline by 15 min. post BFRT. Subjects exhibited this pattern of static PS during both the 1st and 4th test sessions. Conclusions: Initial effects of BFRT were accompanied with an immediate decrease in balance stability measured during static balance that returned to baseline within 15 minutes. After 4 sessions of BFRT, individuals demonstrated improved dynamic PS. Our findings suggest that acute static balance impairments following BFRT last <15 minutes following exercise. Training-associated accommodations with 4 BFRT sessions ameliorate the acute static balance impairments immediately following BFR.