The Safety of Blood Flow Restriction Combined with Stepping Aerobic Exercise in Older Adults with Sarcopenia.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the safety of blood flow restriction combined stepping aerobic exercise (BFR-SAE) using elastic and non-elastic cuffs at varying pressures in older adults with sarcopenia.

Methods: Older adults with sarcopenia were selected by convenience sampling method and underwent BFR-SAE using elastic and non-elastic cuffs at 20%, 40%, and 60% limb occlusion pressure (LOP). Exercise response and adverse events were recorded.

Results: Thirty-one participants (84.81 ± 6.19 years old) completed the tests. During the non-elastic cuffs test, 31 participants completed at 20% LOP, and 4 (12.9%) dropped from 40% to 20% LOP. At 60% LOP, 19 (61.3%) and 3 (9.7%) dropped to 40% and 20% LOP, respectively. In the elastic cuffs tests all participants completed at 20% and 40% LOP. At 60% LOP, 9 (29.0%) dropped to the interface pressure corresponding to 40% LOP. General exercise responses were lower with elastic cuffs at 40% LOP (22.6% vs 45.2%) and 60% LOP (41.9% vs 51.6%), with higher completion rate than non-elastic cuffs (40% LOP: 100% vs 87.1%; 60% LOP: 71.0% vs 29.0%). Among the results of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), pulse rate (P) and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO₂), differences were found in BP and P at different time points (P<0.05) within each pressure, but no significant difference between different pressures. Non-elastic cuffs caused significant increases in SBP, DBP, and P from rest, while only SBP and P showed significant increases in elastic cuffs group. Pain scores were 0 for both cuffs after tests, the adverse events rate was 1.1% and rating of perceived exertion all reached moderate-intensity of exercise.

Conclusion: Elastic cuffs for BFR-SAE induced milder exercise responses and higher completion rates, suggesting better safety and feasibility than non-elastic cuffs in older adults with possible sarcopenia.