Blood Flow Restriction Training in Acute Geriatric Rehabilitation

Blood Flow Restriction Training in Acute Geriatric Rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Its Effects and Safety in Hospitalized Older Adults.

Background: Older adults have a reduced ability to build and maintain muscle mass due to age-related changes in the muscular system. The resulting sarcopenia can lead to a number of health problems and limitations, such as an increased risk of falling and reduced mobility, which can affect quality of life and increase the risk of disease. To increase muscle mass and strength, high-intensity resistance training with loads of 70 to 85% of the repetition maximum (1RM) is recommended. However, this type of training poses a major challenge in the rehabilitation sector, as there is also an increased risk of injury due to physical limitations in old age. According to current research, low-intensity occlusion training could therefore represent a safe and effective training alternative. The aim of this study is therefore to examine the feasibility and effects of blood flow restriction training (BFR) on general health in older adults in a rehabilitative setting.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Sarcopenia in Elderly
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Stationary Bike + Blood-Flow-Restriction; Device: Stationary Bike + Sham-Blood-Flow-Restriction

Detailed Description

The study is a randomized controlled trial with a pre-post design. Participants will be recruited from the of St. Marien Hospital Geriatric Rehabilitation Center in Cologne, Germany. Patients will be randomized into 2 groups. The intervention group will receive BRF training on a stationary cycling ergometer five times a week over a period of two weeks, while the control group will receive sham-BFR training.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Alexander Franz, Dr. med., B.Sc.; Phone Number: +491703750718; Email: alexander.franz@ukbonn.de

Study Locations

• Germany
  • North Rhine-Westphalia
    • Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, 50668
      • Recruiting
      • St. Marien-Hospital Köln
      • Contact: Alexander Franz, Dr. med., B.Sc.; Phone Number: +491703750718; Email: alexander.franz@ukbonn.de

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults >65 years with a two week hospitalized acute rehabilitation after a fracture closed to the hip joint

Exclusion Criteria:

• Sickle Cell Anemia
• Iatrogenic changes of the vessels at the place of the tournqiuet application (e.g. Stents)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group; Blood-Flow-Restriction Training	Device: Stationary Bike + Blood-Flow-Restriction; Cycling Intensity individualized + 60% LOP
Active Comparator: Control Group; Sham-Blood-Flow-Restriction Training	Device: Stationary Bike + Sham-Blood-Flow-Restriction; Cycling Intensity individualized + 20mmHg

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscle Strength	Isometric Maximal Strength Test of the Knee Extensors (in kg)	Pre-Rehabilitation to Post-Rehabilitation (after 2 weeks)
Timed Up and Go Test	The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) is a widely used English-language assessment for measuring functional mobility and fall risk in older adults. It records the time required to stand up from a chair, walk three meters, turn around, and sit down again.	Pre-Rehabilitation to Post-Rehabilitation (after 2 Weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Bonn

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 5, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 5, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): December 18, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 14, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 11, 2026
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 2025_A

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No