# Mechanistic assessment of blood flow restricted training for an ACL injury

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · 2020 · $572,459

## Abstract

Abstract:
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery results in protracted quadriceps weakness that is associated
with altered biomechanics and heightened risk of subsequent injuries. Little progress has been made in
improving quadriceps strength in the past 15-20 years. Alterations in the morphological and cellular
composition of the vastus lateralis muscle promote muscle weakness following an anterior cruciate ligament
reconstruction. These features are not responsive to traditional physical therapy techniques. A promising
emerging treatment, blood flow restriction training (BFRT) has been shown to address these same alterations
in healthy subjects; however, it has never been tested in those with an injury. Pilot data in the current proposal
shows that BFRT can lead to a significant increase in muscle strength following an anterior cruciate ligament
injury. This project seeks to mechanistically determine the ability of BFRT to address underlying muscle
cellular deficits following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction compared to usual care. Goals in the current
proposal are as follows: aim 1 will determine if BFRT is able to significantly improve knee mechanics and
quadriceps strength following an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction compared to usual care. Aim 2 will
use advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques to assess improvements in quadriceps morphology
after training with BFRT. Lastly, aim 3 will identify BFRT-mediated improvements in cellular deficits in the
quadriceps as the result of BFRT training versus usual care. The expected outcomes will show for the first time
that BFRT is an effective mechanistic treatment for normalizing quadriceps strength within individuals following
an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9976451
- **Project number:** 5R01AR071398-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
- **Principal Investigator:** Brian Noehren
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $572,459
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-22 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9976451

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9976451, Mechanistic assessment of blood flow restricted training for an ACL injury (5R01AR071398-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9976451. Licensed CC0.

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