Outcomes of Blood Flow Restriction Training on the Ulnar Collateral Ligament
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Sponsor
- The Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Enrollment
- 50
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Relative ligament thickness of the UCL
- Status
- Recruiting
- Last Updated
- last year
Overview
Brief Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to identify any differences in elbow ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) relative thickness and joint space laxity in the dominant arm following an 8-week course of low intensity resistance exercises with blood flow restriction (BFR) exercises in healthy volunteers. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Do BFR exercises contribute to a change in the relative ligament thickness of the UCL, and changes in the ulnohumeral joint space?
- Are there changes in arm strength following the 8-week strengthening protocol with/without BFR?
Participants will:
- Complete two BFR sessions a week for a total of eight weeks.
- Complete an exercise session with both arms (dominant arm will receive BFR) at each study visit.
- Have sonographs taken of the UCL at the first and last study visit.
- Complete strength assessments at the first and last study visit.
Investigators
Robert A. Jack
Assistant Professor of Clinical Orthopedic Surgery, Academic Institute
The Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Healthy volunteer
- •Agree to complete all exercise sessions and program in its entirety
- •Between the ages of 18-50 years old
Exclusion Criteria
- •Current or recent injury of the hand, elbow, or shoulder
- •Outside of the ages of 18-50 years old
- •Vascular compromise or previous vascular surgery
- •History of DVT
- •Current participation in other BFR research study
- •Currently participating in a structured strength training program
- •Any musculoskeletal conditions resulting in inability to exercise
- •Participants may not be collegiate/professional baseball/softball players
- •Vulnerable populations
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Relative ligament thickness of the UCL
Time Frame: From baseline visit to end of treatment at 8 weeks
Ligament thickness will be evaluated by ultrasound imaging measurement.
Changes in the ulnohumeral joint laxity
Time Frame: At baseline visit and end of treatment at 8 weeks
Any changes will be evaluated by ultrasound imaging. To calculate the relative measurement, also known as the side-to-side difference (STS), investigators will take measurements from both the dominant and nondominant arms and then calculate difference between the two.
Secondary Outcomes
- Changes in arm strength(From baseline visit to end of treatment at 8 weeks)