The Effect of Low-intensity Aerobic Training Combined with Blood Flow Restriction on Maximal Strength, Muscle Mass, and Cycling Performance in a Cyclist with Knee Displacement

Low-intensity aerobic training combined with blood flow restriction (LI + BFR) has resulted in increases in aerobic and neuromuscular capacities in untrained individuals. This strategy may help cyclists incapable of training with high intensity bouts or during a rehabilitation program. However, there is a lack of evidence about the use of LI + BFR in injured trained cyclists. Thus, we investigated the effects of LI + BFR on aerobic capacity, maximal isometric strength, cross-sectional area of vastus lateralis (CSA(VL)), time to exhaustion test (TTE), and 20 km cycling time-trial performance (TT20 km) in a male cyclist with knee osteoarthritis (OA). After a 4-week control period, a 9-week (2 days/week) intervention period started. Pre- and post-intervention TT20 km, peak oxygen consumption (VO(2peak)), power output of the 1st and 2nd ventilatory thresholds (1st W(VT) and 2nd W(VT)), maximum power output (W(max)), TTE, muscle strength and CSA(VL) of both legs were measured. Training intensity was fixed at 30% of W(max) while the duration was progressively increased from 12 min to 24 min. There was a reduction in time to complete TT20 km (−1%) with increases in TT20 km mean power output (3.9%), VO(2peak) (11.4%), 2nd W(VT) (8.3%), W(max) (3.8%), TTE (15.5%), right and left legs maximal strength (1.3% and 8.5%, respectively) and CSA(VL) (3.3% and 3.7%, respectively). There was no alteration in 1st W(VT). Based on the results, we suggest that LI + BFR may be a promising training strategy to improve the performance of knee-injured cyclists with knee OA.