Abstract

Background: Pain, muscle atrophy, and delayed functional recovery are common challenges following sports injuries, often limiting early rehabilitation. Blood Flow Restriction Training (BFRT) has emerged as a promising intervention that enables low-load exercise to produce adaptations similar to high-intensity training, potentially reducing pain while accelerating functional recovery.
Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of Blood Flow Restriction Training in reducing pain and improving functional outcomes in individuals undergoing rehabilitation after sports injury.
Methods: A prospective experimental study was conducted on athletes with lower-limb sports injuries. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups: a conventional rehabilitation group (CR) and a BFRT plus conventional rehabilitation group (BFRT+CR). The intervention was carried out for 6-8 weeks, three sessions per week. The BFRT protocol involved low-load resistance exercises performed at 20-30% of one-repetition maximum with controlled limb occlusion using pneumatic cuffs. Outcome measures included pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale), muscle strength (hand-held dynamometry), limb girth, and functional performance (single-leg hop test and sports-specific functional scale). Assessments were conducted at baseline and post-intervention.
Results: The BFRT+CR group demonstrated significantly greater reduction in pain scores compared to the CR group (p < 0.05). Significant improvements were observed in muscle strength, limb circumference, and functional performance tests in the BFRT group compared to conventional rehabilitation alone. Participants receiving BFRT also showed earlier return-to-sport readiness.
Conclusion: Blood Flow Restriction Training combined with conventional rehabilitation is an effective and safe adjunct intervention for reducing pain, preventing muscle atrophy, and enhancing functional recovery following sports injury. BFRT may facilitate early rehabilitation and accelerate return to sport while minimizing mechanical stress on healing tissues.

Keywords:Blood Flow Restriction Training, Sports Injury Rehabilitation, Pain Reduction, Muscle Strength, Functional Recovery, Low-Load Resistance Training