Introduction. From the age of 80 onwards, more than 50% of people suffer from sarcopenia. The loss of muscle strength leads to a loss of muscle power, impairing functionality and preventing the correct performance of activities of daily living. Objective. To analyse the efficacy of blood flow restriction in older adult patients by evaluating changes in the variables muscle power and strength, physical condition and functionality of the lower limbs. Material and method. Randomised single-blind clinical study. Thirty-six older adults will be recruited and randomised to the experimental and control groups. The intervention will have a duration of 4 weeks, with 2 weekly sessions. The intervention will consist of an intervention by performing 3 quadriceps strength exercises, with a 40% restriction. The primary variable of the study will be muscle power (Sit To Stand 5 times) and the secondary variables will be muscle strength (dynamometry), physical condition (Timed Up and Go) and functionality and autonomy (Barthel index)
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
18
The intensity of the work will be set at around 40% of the maximum intensity that can be executed in a single repetition (1RM). To reach the established intensity, weights, weighted ankle supports and rubber bands of different resistances will be used. Three sets of 8-10 repetitions will be performed with breaks of 1-2 seconds between repetitions and 2-3 minutes between sets. The intensity of the work will be established by applying the rate of perceived exertion. A blood flow restriction device will be used (Akrafit, Valencia, Spain model).
Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia
Murcia, Spain
Change from baseline muscle power after treatment and at four weeks
Muscle power will be assessed with the Sit To Stand 5 times. This tool consists of getting up and sitting down from a chair five times. This instrument has shown high reliability (CCI= 0.95). The unit of measurement is time in seconds, where the shorter the time the greater the muscle power
Time frame: Screening visit, within the first seven days after treatment and four weeks follow-up visit
Change from baseline muscle strength after treatment and at four weeks
Muscle strength shall be measured with a pressure dynamometer (Lafayette Manual Muscle Tester 01165). For the measurement of quadriceps muscle strength, the patient shall be placed in a seated position with 90° hip flexion and 75° knee flexion. The dynamometer shall be placed perpendicular to the leg to be assessed, just above the lateral malleolus, maintaining 75° of knee flexion. This assessment has shown good intra-observer reliability (ICC\>0.70). This device measures in Newton the force performed by the patient in the requested muscle action. The higher the value, the greater the muscle strength
Time frame: Screening visit, within the first seven days after treatment and four weeks follow-up visit
Change from baseline physical condition after treatment and at four weeks
Physical condition will be measured with the Timed Up and Go (TUG). This tool consists of the participant getting up from a chair, walking three metres around an obstacle, walking back to the chair and sitting down again in a timed manner. This instrument has shown high reliability (ICC=0.80-0.99). The unit of measurement is time in seconds, where the shorter the time the greater the physical condition
Time frame: Screening visit, within the first seven days after treatment and four weeks follow-up visit
Change from baseline functionality after treatment and at four weeks
Functionality and autonomy will be measured with the Barthel Index. This tool consists of a scale assessing ten items: eating, transferring between chair and bed, personal grooming, toilet use, bathing/showering, transferring, going up and down stairs, dressing and undressing, stool control and urine control. Each item is scored 0 (dependent), 5 (performs with assistance) or 10 (independent) according to the degree to which he/she is able to perform it. This instrument has shown high reliability (ICC= 0.96). The score range is from 0 (total dependence) to 100 (independence).
Time frame: Screening visit, within the first seven days after treatment and four weeks follow-up visit
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