COMBINED EFFECTS OF BLOOD FLOW RESTRICTION TRAINING AND AUGMENTED SOFT TISSUE MOBILIZATION ON RANGE OF MOTION, MUSCLE STRENGTH AND FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY IN PATIENTS FOLLOWING TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY

Abstract

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is commonly performed for advanced knee osteoarthritis, yet postoperative limitations in knee range of motion (ROM), quadriceps muscle strength, functional recovery, and functional mobility may persist. This study determined the combined effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) training, augmented soft tissue mobilization (ASTYM), and conventional postoperative rehabilitation in patients following TKA. A single-blinded randomized controlled trial included 28 participants following primary unilateral TKA, allocated to an experimental group (n = 14) and a control group (n = 14). The experimental group received BFR training and ASTYM in addition to conventional rehabilitation, whereas the control group received conventional rehabilitation alone for 6 weeks. ROM, muscle strength, Lysholm Knee Score, and Timed Up and Go (TUG) were assessed before and after treatment. Significant within-group improvements occurred in all outcomes in both groups (p < 0.001). In the experimental group, ROM improved from 80.71 ± 9.57° to 107.20 ± 9.36°, muscle strength from 13.84 ± 1.57 to 21.71 ± 2.00, Lysholm Knee Score from 43.00 ± 5.13 to 75.50 ± 5.05, and TUG from 16.36 ± 1.33 s to 10.81 ± 0.96 s. In the control group, ROM improved from 83.19 ± 7.00° to 102.21 ± 5.50°, muscle strength from 13.71 ± 1.85 to 18.45 ± 1.66, Lysholm Knee Score from 43.79 ± 5.19 to 64.79 ± 4.00, and TUG from 15.84 ± 1.42 s to 12.89 ± 1.17 s. Post-treatment muscle strength, functional recovery, and functional mobility were significantly better in the experimental group (p < 0.001), whereas ROM did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.10). Combined BFR and ASTYM may therefore be useful adjuncts to conventional rehabilitation following TKA.