Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson's BFR Research

Feasibility of low-load resistance training with blood flow restriction in people with advanced disability due to Parkinson’s disease

Blood flow restriction (BFR) training is a novel way to deliver resistance exercise to people with more advanced Parkinson’s. BFR uses an external cuff to partially occlude blood flow of an exercising limb, causing muscle hypoxia and triggering anaerobic metabolism even at low intensities (20-30% of 1-repetition max). BFR has been shown to improve strength in people with musculoskeletal conditions and older adults. Importantly, for people with advanced Parkinson’s, training with low loads means exercise can be done in accessible settings using simple equipment and with less muscular and articular stress and delayed onset muscle soreness compared to conventional resistance training. We will use a mixed-methods convergent parallel study design to determine the feasibility of low-load BFR training in 20 people with advanced Parkinson’s symptoms.

  • Mark Manago, PT, PhD. Principal Investigator.

  • Laura Swink, OT, PhD. Co-Investigator, Qualitative Analysis lead, participant interviewer.

  • Cory Christiansen, PT, PhD. Co-Investigator, IMU and actigraphy lead.

  • Jeanne Feuerstein, MD. Co-Investigator, study neurologist, UPDRS assessments, safety review.

  • Talia Strahler, PT, DPT. Research Assistant, Study Interventionist.

  • Katherine Balfany, MS. Study Coordinator.

If you are interested in participating in this study, please reach out to the Study Coordinator, Katherine Balfany, by email: [email protected]

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