Familiarisation with lower limb strength testing in middle-aged women with osteoarthritis of the knee

Low-Load Resistance Training With Blood-Flow Restriction in Relation to Muscle Function, Mass, and Functionality in Women With Rheumatoid Arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of a low-load resistance training program associated with partial blood-flow restriction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

Forty-eight women with RA were randomized into 1 of 3 groups: high-load resistance training (HL-RT; 70% 1 repetition maximum [1RM]), low-load resistance training (30% 1RM) with partial blood-flow restriction training (BFRT), and a control group. Patients completed a 12-week supervised training program and were assessed for lower-extremity 1RM, quadriceps cross-sectional area (CSA), physical function (timed-stands test [TST], timed-up-and-go test [TUG], and Health Assessment Questionnaire [HAQ]), and quality of life (Short Form 36 health survey [SF-36]) at baseline and after the intervention.

RESULTS

BFRT and HL-RT were similarly effective in increasing maximum dynamic strength in both leg press (22.8% and 24.2%, respectively; P < 0.0001 for all) and knee extension (19.7% and 23.8%, respectively; P < 0.0001 for all). Quadriceps CSA was also significantly increased in both BFRT and HL-RT (9.5% and 10.8%, respectively; P < 0.0001 for all). Comparable improvements in TST (11.2% and 14.7%; P < 0.0001 for all) and TUG (-6.8% [P < 0.0053] and -8.7% [P < 0.0001]) were also observed in BFRT and HL-RT, respectively. Improvements in both groups were significantly greater than those of the control group (P < 0.05 for all). SF-36 role physical and bodily pain and HAQ scores were improved only in BFRT (45.7%, 22.5%, and -55.9%, respectively; P < 0.05 for all). HL-RT resulted in 1 case of withdrawal and several cases of exercise-induced pain, which did not occur in BFRT.

CONCLUSION

BFRT was effective in improving muscle strength, mass, function, and health-related quality of life in patients with RA, emerging as a viable therapeutic modality in RA management.

Benefits of Resistance Training with Blood Flow Restriction in Knee Osteoarthritis

PURPOSE

Evaluate the effects of a low-intensity resistance training (LI-RT) program associated with partial blood flow restriction on selected clinical outcomes in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

Forty-eight women with knee OA were randomized into one of the three groups: LI-RT (30% one repetition maximum [1-RM]) associated (blood flow restriction training [BFRT]) or not (LI-RT) with partial blood flow restriction, and high-intensity resistance training (HI-RT, 80% 1-RM). Patients underwent a 12-wk supervised training program and were assessed for lower-limb 1-RM, quadriceps cross-sectional area, functionality (timed-stands test and timed-up-and-go test), and disease-specific inventory (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC]) before (PRE) and after (POST) the protocol.

RESULTS

Similar within-group increases were observed in leg press (26% and 33%, all P < 0.0001), knee extension 1-RM (23% and 22%; all P < 0.0001) and cross-sectional area (7% and 8%; all P < 0.0001) in BFRT and HI-RT, respectively, and these were significantly greater (all P < 0.05) than those of LI-RT. The BFRT and HI-RT showed comparable improvements in timed-stands test (7% and 14%, respectively), with the latter showing greater increases than LI-RT. Timed-up-and-go test scores were not significantly changed within or between groups. WOMAC physical function was improved in BFRT and HI-RT (-49% and -42%, respectively; all P < 0.05), and WOMAC pain was improved in BFRT and LI-RT (-45% and -39%, respectively; all P < 0.05). Four patients (of 16) were excluded due to exercise-induced knee pain in HI-RT.

CONCLUSIONS

Blood flow restriction training and HI-RT were similarly effective in increasing muscle strength, quadriceps muscle mass, and functionality in knee OA patients. Importantly, BFRT was also able to improve pain while inducing less joint stress, emerging as a feasible and effective therapeutic adjuvant in OA management.

Clinical outcomes of kinesio taping applied in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to compare kinesio taping along with conventional treatment to conventional treatment alone and to report the results of both a single and repetitive kinesio taping application applied on quadriceps femoris and hamstring muscles on pain, range of motion, muscle strength, and functional status in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

METHODS

Fifty-four patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly allocated to two groups. A total of 28 patients were included in kinesio taping group, others were included in the control group. Before and after intervention, pain was measured with visual analog scale, range of motion was measured with universal goniometer, muscle strength was measured with dynamometer, and functional status was measured with Knee Injury Osteoarthritis Outcome Score.

RESULTS

There were statistically significant improvements in measures of pain, range of motion, quadriceps muscle strength and functional status between pre- and post-treatment in both groups (p< 0.05). In comparison, there were no significant differences with these parameters between groups (p> 0.05). It was also found that significant difference was observed in terms of range of motion, pain, functional status between pre-treatment and post-taping in intervention group (p< 0.017).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we could report that kinesio taping has significant immediate effects after a single kinesio taping application on range of motion, pain and functional status in patients with knee osteoarthritis. We could also report that KT in addition to conventional treatment is not superior to conventional treatment alone in terms of clinical outcomes over 3 weeks later.

Creatine supplementation in fibromyalgia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy and safety of creatine supplementation in fibromyalgia patients.

METHODS

A 16-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial was conducted. Fibromyalgia patients were randomly assigned to receive either creatine monohydrate or placebo in a double-blind manner. The patients were evaluated at baseline and after 16 weeks. Muscle function, aerobic conditioning, cognitive function, quality of sleep, quality of life, kidney function, and adverse events were assessed. Muscle phosphorylcreatine content was measured through (31) P magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

RESULTS

After the intervention, the creatine group presented higher muscle phosphorylcreatine content when compared with the placebo group (+80.3% versus -2.7%; P = 0.04). Furthermore, the creatine group presented greater muscle strength than the placebo group in the leg press and chest press exercises (+9.8% and +1.2% for creatine versus -0.5% and -7.2% for placebo, respectively; P = 0.02 and P = 0.002, respectively). Isometric strength was greater in the creatine group than in the placebo group (+6.4% versus -3.2%; P = 0.007). However, no general changes were observed in aerobic conditioning, pain, cognitive function, quality of sleep, and quality of life. Food intake remained unaltered and no side effects were reported.

CONCLUSION

Creatine supplementation increased intramuscular phosphorylcreatine content and improved lower- and upper-body muscle function, with minor changes in other fibromyalgia features. These findings introduce creatine supplementation as a useful dietary intervention to improve muscle function in fibromyalgia patients.