New research from Murdoch University in Australia shows that using blood flow restriction cuffs during walking may affect how older adults move, possibly making them less steady.
This discovery comes as blood flow restriction, or BFR training, is becoming more popular worldwide, especially as a way to increase strength through light exercise.
BFR training involves placing special cuffs around the arms or legs. These cuffs are then inflated to gently reduce how much blood can flow in and out of the limbs. By limiting the blood flow, the muscles receive less oxygen, which makes them work harder even with lighter activity.
This can lead to gains in muscle strength and size without needing heavy weights, which can be helpful for older people or those recovering from injury.
The new study was led by Associate Professor Brendan Scott from Murdoch University’s Center for Healthy Aging, along with Associate Professor Brook Galna. They wanted to find out how BFR cuffs affect walking balance in older adults. To do this, they studied 10 healthy people with an average age of 73.
Each person walked on a treadmill for 10 minutes under three conditions: once without any cuffs, once with the cuffs at 40% pressure, and once with the cuffs at 60% pressure—the pressure being measured as a percentage of what would be needed to completely block blood flow.
While they walked, the researchers used a small motion sensor taped to their lower backs to check how steady they were. This sensor tracked how their balance changed as they moved. The results showed that the more the cuffs were inflated, the worse the participants’ balance became. This happened no matter how fast they were walking.
These findings raise an important concern. If BFR training causes people to lose their balance while walking, it could increase the risk of falls—something that can be very dangerous for older adults.
However, the researchers also pointed out that this short-term loss of balance might actually help in the long run. Just like practicing on uneven surfaces can improve stability, walking with BFR cuffs—if done safely—might eventually train the body to handle balance better.
Professor Scott emphasized the importance of safety when using BFR. While their study shows there are changes in walking balance, they have supervised hundreds of BFR walking sessions and have not seen anyone trip or fall due to the cuffs.
He believes that with professional supervision, and by starting with low pressures in a controlled environment, BFR training can still offer valuable benefits for older adults.
Associate Professor Galna agreed, noting that this is the first study to clearly show how BFR cuffs can change walking stability in older adults. Their work highlights the need for careful use of this method and suggests that more studies are needed to explore how long-term BFR training might affect walking and balance.
To summarize, BFR training has potential to help older adults build strength and possibly improve function, but it may also change their walking pattern in the short term.
The study recommends that anyone using BFR—especially older adults—should do so under supervision and in a safe environment. As interest in this type of training continues to grow, safety and proper use will be key.
The study is published in Gait & Posture.
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