Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects 1 per 1000 people in the United States. This disease is characterized by neurological abnormalities that may limit a person’s ability to perform high-load resistance training. Blood-flow restriction training, which involves the inflation of a pneumatic cuff around the proximal end of a working muscle, has resulted in muscle strength adaptations to low-load resistance training similar to high-load resistance training in healthy adults, but has not been studied in persons with MS.
PURPOSE:
To determine if low-load resistance training with blood-flow restriction is more effective than low-load resistance training alone in improving markers of mobility disability in persons with MS.
METHODS:
19 persons with MS (median EDSS score=2.5) were randomly assigned to perform a six week, progressive, low-load resistance training program (30% 1RM) with or without an inflated KAATSU mini cuff (160 mm Hg). To determine efficacy at the start and following the six-weeks of training, participants were measured for body composition (DEXA), mobility (timed 25-foot walk test, timed up-and-go), muscle strength (leg press, calf raise, leg extension, leg curl 1RM), power (peak torque), and cardiovascular health (blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, augmentation index). Data analysis involved a 2x2 ANOVA for group and time.
RESULTS:
ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of time for measures of strength (leg press, calf raise, and leg curl), power (peak flexion), and mobility (p≤0.05 for all), but not lean body mass, peak leg-extension strength, and extension power (p>0.05). However, there were no significant group-by-time interactions for any measure of mobility, strength, or power (p>0.05 for all). Measures of cardiovascular health did not change significantly over time or between groups (p>0.05 for all). However, central pulse wave velocity (carotid to femoral) tended to increase with blood-flow restriction training compared to low load training alone (p=0.055).
CONCLUSIONS:
Results from this group suggest low-load resistance training with blood-flow restriction offers no additional benefit in comparison to low-load resistance training alone in persons with MS.
