Blood Flow Restriction Training in Individuals Awaiting Total Knee Replacement

Exclusion Criteria

• •1. have a history of cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg), deep-vein thrombosis, varicose veins, or rhabdomyolysis;
• •2. have absolute contraindications to exercise, as established by the American College of Sports Medicine (uncontrolled arrhythmias, third degree heart block, recent EKG changes, unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, and acute congestive heart failure);
• •3. report of 2 or more falls within the past year;
• •4. cannot walk a distance of 100 feet (30.5 meters) without an assistive device or need of a rest period;
• •5. have bilateral TKR or undergoing TKR revision or other total joint replacement in the lower extremities; or
• •6. have severe visual or hearing impairment. In addition to the affects that these impairments have on safety during participation in the intervention, they may also interfere with data collection (questionnaires and telephone checks);
• •7. have a lower extremity amputation;
• •8. are unable to comfortably bear weight on the affected knee;
• •9. have a BMI above 40.
• •10. history of muscular disease (e.g., muscular dystrophy) or neurological disorder that may affect lower extremity function (e.g., cerebrovascular accident, neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis);
• •11. had additional surgery to the lower extremities within the past 12 months.
• •12. a Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination score of \<24.
• •13. have acute or terminal illness;
• •14. are planning to have another TKR (primary on contralateral, or revision on same knee) within 4 months;
• •15. are planning to relocate to another city within 4 months.
• •16. Subjects with Sickle cell disease
• •17. lymphedema or vascular access restrictions
• •18. Subjects who have any on-going medical emergency
• •19. An ankle-brachial index outside of the expected range 0.9 and 1.3