Blood Flow Restriction Exercise for Those With SCI

Exercise training will consist of blood flow restriction exercise. Specifically blood pressure cuff will be wrapped around the most proximal portion of the thigh and inflated to a pressure that is 80% of the pressure required to completely occlude femoral blood flow. With the cuff inflated the subject will perform a series of knee extension/flexion exercise protocol. This consists of 30 reps, 15 reps, 15 reps and 15 reps all separated by 1 minute of recovery. All reps will be performed at 30% of the subjects 1 repetition max. This will be preformed 20 times over 8 weeks.

Traditional knee extension/flexion exercise will be performed. This will consist of a series of 13 reps, 12 reps, 12 reps with 1 minute recovery between each set. The resistance will be set at 60% of their 1 repetition max. This will be performed 20 times across 8 weeks.