Blood Flow Restriction on Functional Mobility in Pre-frail Older Adults

Effect of Blood Flow Restriction Resistance Exercise on Functional Mobility in Pre-Frail Older Adults

This study investigates the effect of blood flow restriction with resistance exercise on functional mobility in pre-frail older adults. It is hypothesized that receiving resistance exercise with blood flow restriction will exhibit better improvement on functional mobility than only receiving resistance exercise in pre-frail older adults.

Participants aged over 65 years old with less than two items positive of Fried frailty phenotype assessment result will be recruited. The participants will be randomly assigned to two training groups, blood flow restriction resistance exercise and traditional resistance exercise. Both groups will receive the training 30 minutes/session, two sessions/week for six weeks. Muscle strength of the lower extremities and functional mobility tests will be used to assess outcomes at pre-training, 3-week after training, post-training, and one-month and two-month follow-up.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged over 65 years old
• Fried frailty index fulfill 1-2 criteria
• Able to walk 6 meters independently
• Able to understand and follow ≥ 3 instructions

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe hypertension (>180/110mmHg)
• Peripheral neuropathy
• History of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Cardiovascular diseases (i.e. Heart failure NYHA Classification III or IV, myocardial infarction, pulmonary hypertension, coronary artery stenosis)
• Neuromuscular diseases (i.e. Stroke, Parkinsons' disease)
• History of resisted exercise training program within the last 6 months before screening