Contributory Effect of Additional Blood Flow Restriction in Active Joint Mobilization for Young Adults with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: Active joint mobilization (AJM) is an effective strategy for treating chronic ankle instability. Recent studies haveshown that incorporating blood-flow restriction (BFR) training into joint exercise programs can enhance physical function. Theaim of this study was to compare the effects of BFR during active joint mobilization in individuals with chronic ankle instability. Design: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty participants with chronic ankle instability were randomly assigned to either the BFR plus AJM group (n=15) or the AJM group (n=15). The BFR plus AJM group had BFR applied during the AJM, while the AJM group did not. AJM was performed 10 times with voluntary movement, and BFR was performed only during AJM. Static and dynamic balance abilities were assessed using standardized measurements before and after the study. Data were compared using appropriate statisticalanalysis. Results: The results showed statistically significant improvements in static and dynamic balance abilities after the AJMintervention program in both the BFR and non-BFR groups (p<0.05). However, the BFR group demonstrated greaterimprovements in dynamic balance abilities compared to the non-BFR group(p<0.05). Applying BFR during AJM in individualswith CAI was found to be an effective strategy for improving static and dynamic balance abilities. Conclusions: These findings suggest that BFR may be beneficial for the treatment of CAI. Further research is needed to evaluatethe long-term effects and safety of BFR training in this population.