Abstract
Background:
Quadriceps muscle atrophy with diminished muscle strength has been observed in patients underwent ACL reconstruction, despite following the regular physical rehabilitation. Blood flow restricted therapy has shown beneficial outcomes in attempts to prevent muscle atrophy and improve muscle strength in this population.
Objective:
The aim of study is to evaluate the functional outcome with blood flow restricted therapy following ACL reconstruction according to recent publications.
Methods:
This study conducted a thorough systematic search for relevant scientific reports on multiple medical databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar, using a combination of keywords such as "blood flow restricted therapy," "ACL reconstruction," “IKDC,” "KOOS," and “Lysholm”. The search was performed in April 2013-2023, resulted in 557 studies. Two reviewers (WA, PA) independently screened the abstracts and reference lists, with any discrepancies resolved through consensus, concluding 4 included studies.
Results:
Four studies included studies are included with a total 80 patients consisting of 41 patients treated with blood flow restricted therapy (BFRT) and 39 patients treated with regular physical rehabilitation following an ACL reconstruction. At 8 weeks follow-up, there are overall satisfactorily functional outcomes, including IKDC, KOOS, and Lysholm score favoring BFRT.
Conclusion:
Blood flow restriction therapy is applicable for physical rehabilitation technique following ACL reconstruction. It provides beneficial adjunct to surgical ACL reconstruction with satisfactory results.