Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Training on the Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL)

Purpose

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: 1. Do BFR exercises contribute to a change in the relative ligament thickness of the UCL, and changes in the ulnohumeral joint space? 2. 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.

Conditions

  • Healthy
  • Healthy Male and Female Subjects
  • Healthy Volunteers

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 50 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

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

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
N/A
Intervention Model
Single Group Assignment
Primary Purpose
Basic Science
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
BFR Training on the UCL
  • Device: Delfi PTS Blood Flow Restriction Tourniquet System
    In Houston Methodist rehabilitation clinics these devices are used as standard of care for BFR therapy in many post-operative treatments. General guidelines suggest using ranges between 30% - 80% of limb occlusion pressure (LOP). In our previous research efforts involving BFR the investigators have adhered to these guidelines and experienced no adverse events while observing these ranges to be well tolerated by subjects.

Recruiting Locations

Houston Methodist Hospital
Houston, Texas 77030
Contact:
Haley Goble, MHA
713-441-3930
hmgoble@houstonmethodist.org

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
The Methodist Hospital Research Institute

Study Contact

Haley Goble, MHA
713-441-3930
hmgoble@houstonmethodist.org