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 withRAwere 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 BFRTandHL-RTwere 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). QuadricepsCSAwas also significantly increased in bothBFRTandHL-RT(9.5% and 10.8%, respectively;P< 0.0001 for all). Comparable improvements inTST(11.2% and 14.7%;P< 0.0001 for all) andTUG(-6.8% [P< 0.0053] and -8.7% [P< 0.0001]) were also observed inBFRTandHL-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 andHAQscores were improved only inBFRT(45.7%, 22.5%, and -55.9%, respectively;P< 0.05 for all).HL-RTresulted in 1 case of withdrawal and several cases of exercise-induced pain, which did not occur inBFRT. Conclusion BFRTwas effective in improving muscle strength, mass, function, and health-related quality of life in patients withRA, emerging as a viable therapeutic modality inRAmanagement.