Effect of blood flow restriction training with strengthening exercises in individuals with rounded shoulder posture: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Blood flow restriction (BFR) training has been advocated as an alternative approach for improving muscle strength to correct round shoulder posture (RSP) conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of strengthening exercise (SE) with and without BFR training on muscle strength, muscle thickness, RSP, and total scapular distance (TSD) in participants with RSP. This study enrolled a total of 28 healthy participants with RSP. They were randomly assigned to the BFR+SE (n = 14) or the SE group (n = 14). Both groups underwent supervised rehabilitation three times weekly for four consecutive weeks. The BFR+SE group was applied with a cuff around the proximal arm at 50% of arterial occlusion pressure in addition to the SE program, whereas the SE group received the sham BFR alone. Muscle strength, muscle thickness, RSP, and TSD were measured before and after 4 weeks of the intervention. Compared with baseline, both groups showed significant improvement in the rhomboid major, serratus anterior (SA), middle trapezius, and lower trapezius (LT) muscle strength, RSP, and TSD over a 4-week intervention (all P <0.05). Moreover, the BFR+SE group exhibit significant improvements in the thickness of LT and SA muscle compared with that before training (all P <0.01). In addition, the BFR+SE group produced superior benefits over the SE group for all the above variables examined. This finding indicated that BFR programs over 4 weeks are more effective in improving muscle strength, muscle thickness, RSP, and TSD. This information could be a reference for physical therapists when designing exercise programs to correct RSP.