Blood flow restriction added to usual care exercise in patients with early weight bearing restrictions after cartilage or meniscus repair in the knee joint: a feasibility study

Jakobsen, Thomas Linding; Thorborg, Kristian; Fisker, Jakob; Kallemose, Thomas; Bandholm, Thomas

doi:10.1186/s40634-022-00533-4

Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics

Table 3 Outcome measures at baseline, 16 and 26-week assessment

From: Blood flow restriction added to usual care exercise in patients with early weight bearing restrictions after cartilage or meniscus repair in the knee joint: a feasibility study

Group	Baseline		16 weeks		Difference (16 weeks – Baseline)		26 weeks		Difference (26 weeks – Baseline)
Group	Cartilage (n = 21)	Meniscus (n = 21)	Cartilage (n = 21)	Meniscus (n = 21)	Cartilage^a (n = 21)	Meniscus (n = 21)	Cartilage (n = 20)	Meniscus (n = 19)	Cartilage (n = 20)	Meniscus (n = 19)
Thigh circumference, operated, cm	53.7 ± 5.3	51.8 ± 5.2	54.5 ± 5.2	53.4 ± 5.0	0.8 ± 1.3**	1.6 ± 1.2***	55.2 ± 5.0	53.5 ± 4.7	1.0 ± 1.3***	1.8 ± 2.3***
Thigh circumference, healthy, cm	56.0 ± 4.9	53.8 ± 4.4	56.5 ± 4.9	54.7 ± 4.6	0.5 ± 1.2*	0.9 ± 0.8**	56.9 ± 4.9	54.5 ± 4.3	0.4 ± 1.3	0.9 ± 1.5**
Thigh circumference difference (healthy – operated leg), cm	2.3 ± 1.9	2.0 ± 1.4	2.0 ± 1.5	1.3 ± 1.3	-0.3 ± 1.5*	-0.7 ± 1.2*	1.7 ± 1.4	1.0 ± 1.4	-0.7 ± 1.4***	-0.9 ± 1.5**
KOOS subscale scores, points
Pain	54.2 ± 21.0	51.7 ± 16.9	78.2 ± 14.0	81.1 ± 13.9	23.2 ± 15.6***	29.4 ± 20.2***	79.3 ± 16.4	78.8 ± 19.2	24.8 ± 18.9***	27.7 ± 23.3***
Symptoms	53.7 ± 16.8	52.7 ± 14.0	76.3 ± 11.0	74.1 ± 16.5	22.1 ± 21.7***	21.4 ± 13.9***	79.5 ± 12.3	75.0 ± 22.7	25.4 ± 23.7***	22.4 ± 16.5***
Activities of daily living	49.4 ± 26.8	54.2 ± 20.6	83.4 ± 13.2	86.5 ± 12.1	32.5 ± 20.2***	32.3 ± 21.9***	87.7 ± 13.7	86.5 ± 16.8	37.4 ± 23.3***	33.0 ± 22.1***
Sports/recreation	4.5 ± 6.7	6.7 ± 9.7	25.3 ± 17.1	40.2 ± 23.0	20.5 ± 17.2***	33.6 ± 21.2***	42.3 ± 23.6	55.8 ± 31.5	37.5 ± 23.5***	49.5 ± 29.9***
Quality of life	26.5 ± 17.1	34.5 ± 18.4	34.7 ± 18.3	43.8 ± 22.6	7.5 ± 13.5**	9.2 ± 17.9*	45.6 ± 19.0	49.3 ± 22.1	18.4 ± 16.9***	14.1 ± 21.0**
Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS), points	0.9 ± 0.9	1.1 ± 1.2	4.6 ± 2.1	5.4 ± 2.0	3.7 ± 2.2***	4.3 ± 2.3***	5.49 ± 2.0	6.7 ± 2.0	4.6 ± 2.0***	5.7 ± 2.2***
Knee joint effusion, operated, cm	43.1 ± 4.3	41.5 ± 3.4	42.5 ± 4.2	41.3 ± 3.3	-0.6 ± 0.8*	-0.2 ± 1.2	43.1 ± 3.4	41.0 ± 3.0	-0.5 ± 1.3*	-0.2 ± 1.6
Knee joint effusion, healthy, cm	42.6 ± 4.0	40.9 ± 3.1	43.0 ± 4.2	41.6 ± 2.9	0.4 ± 0.6*	0.6 ± 0.7***	43.3 ± 3.5	41.5 ± 2.9	0.2 ± 0.8	0.7 ± 0.9***
Knee AROM flexion, degrees	122.0 ± 13.7	92.8 ± 28.7	138.1 ± 6.7	140.1 ± 8.7	16.1 ± 14.1***	47.4 ± 30.9***	138.6 ± 7.7	140.4 ± 9.1	16.7 ± 14.3***	48.1 ± 29.4***
Knee PROM flexion, degrees	128.2 ± 15.8	95.3 ± 28.0	144.4 ± 6.8	145.1 ± 8.3	16.2 ± 15.3***	49.8 ± 29.4***	144.4 ± 6.3	145.9 ± 8.7	16.4 ± 15.4***	51.8 ± 29.0***
Knee AROM extension, degrees	-4.2 ± 5.8	-2.5 ± 6.5	-7.6 ± 4.5	-6.9 ± 6.2	-3.3 ± 4.2***	-4.4 ± 6.5***	-7.1 ± 4.3	-9.0 ± 5.1	-3.0 ± 4.5**	-7.0 ± 5.4**
Knee PROM extension, degrees	-9.1 ± 5.2	-5.2 ± 6.4	-10.6 ± 4.9	-10.0 ± 7.1	-1.5 ± 2.8*	-4.8 ± 7.5**	-10.1 ± 3.9	-11.9 ± 5.3	-1.1 ± 3.0	-7.2 ± 6.1*
Knee-extension strength, operated, Nm/kg							1.78 ± 0.63	1.99 ± 0.67
Knee-extension strength, healthy, Nm/kg							2.33 ± 0.52	2.29 ± 0.59
Limb strength index, knee-extension strength, %							76 ± 20	89 ± 29
Knee-flexion strength, operated, Nm/kg							1.26 ± 0.33	1.37 ± 0.33
Knee-flexion strength, healthy, Nm/kg							1.37 ± 0.36	1.46 ± 0.40
Limb strength index, knee-flexion strength, %							94 ± 18	96 ± 19

All values are presented as mean ± SD
Negative knee extension scores indicate ROM scores, where the knee extends more than the 0° starting position. Nm/kg = Newton × meter/kg. Limb strength index = Strength, operated/strength, healthy) × 100%
Abbreviations: KOOS Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, AROM active range of motion, PROM passive ROM
^*p < 0.05
^**p < 0.01
^***p < 0.001
^aKOOS subscale scores n = 20

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