Exercises with partial vascular occlusion in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized clinical trial

34 women with osteoarthritis of the knee were randomized to a six-week physiotherapy regimen consisting of either low-load exercises with partial vascular occlusion (PVO) or conventional high-load exercises (without PVO). The purpose of this study was to determine if occluded, low-load quadriceps muscle exercise were associated with similar improvements in pain, function, and knee performance when compared to conventional therapy. Results demonstrated that all outcomes of interest were comparable between study groups throughout the study, however, patients in the occlusion group were observed with significantly reduced anterior knee pain and discomfort experienced during quadriceps exercise when compared to the conventional group.