Effects of Blood-flow Restricted Exercise Compared to Standard Rehabilitation in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

The BFR group performs unilateral training with the knee-OA diagnosed leg first. BFR exercise is performed with a pneumatic cuff placed at the top of the thigh on the leg being trained. The cuff will be inflated to 60-80 % of the total arterial occlusion pressure (AOP). The participant will afterwards perform training of the knee extensors in a leg press exercise machine and a leg extension exercise machine with a load corresponding to 30 % of the maximal load (1RM = Repetition Maximum).

The GLA:D programme involves a circuit training program with four stations. Each station involves two to six exercises where the participants perform 10-15 repetitions over 2-3 sets, which depends on the participants pain- and functional level. Following the 8 weeks GLA:D programme, participants will continue 4 weeks of team group training performing similar neuromuscular lower limb exercises as for the first 8 weeks.