Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Muscle Strength and Physical Function for Stroke-Related Sarcopenia

Participants in this group will undergo a supervised treadmill walking program with blood flow restriction (BFR) applied using BFR pressure cuffs. The cuffs are applied to the proximal thighs, and the training pressure starts at 50% of the participant's arterial occlusion pressure (AOP), increasing every two weeks up to 200 mmHg. Walking is performed at 60% of the maximum walking speed, 20 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks.

Participants in this group will follow the same supervised treadmill walking protocol as the BFR group but with minimal cuff pressure (20 mmHg), which does not restrict blood flow. This simulates the sensation of BFR without physiological impact. The purpose is to serve as a placebo comparator. Walking is performed at 60% of maximum walking speed, 20 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks.