Comparison of Training Load With/Out Blood Flow Restriction Training in Rheumatoid Populations

The study will investigate the effects of a traditional, high-intensity strengthening program compared to an investigational low-intensity strengthening program that also uses blood flow restriction as part of the training program. Both groups will be compared to a control group, which will receive no training. Measures of strength, function, and patient outcomes will be taken before starting the training, at mid-term, and at the end of the 8-week training program. Additionally, investigators will collect outcome data at 6 and 12 months after completing the program to assess for long term outcomes. The eligible populations are participants with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), or myositis. The study will include about 15 participants per group, or 45 people with each diagnosis.

This study is a randomized controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of low-intensity training with blood flow restriction (LIT+BFR) vs high-intensity training (HIT) vs a control group in people with RA, myositis, and osteoarthritis. Participants of each population will be randomized into LIT+BFR, HIT, or control. All functional testing and interventional procedures will be performed at the School of Allied Health Professions (SAHP). The evaluator will be blinded to group allocation. Blood draws and analysis will be performed during visits with the participant's rheumatologist at the Ambulatory Care Center, as part of the standard of care for their visits with their rheumatologist.

All participants will perform informed consent, which will take place at the SAHP Faculty Clinic. Once a participant has consented, he/she will participate in two familiarization sessions at least 48 hours apart. Familiarization sessions are designed to introduce patients to the exercise equipment, and will consist of the tests used in the evaluation portion of the intervention. Familiarization sessions also aide in better obtaining a patient's 1 repetition max (1RM, i.e. the maximum amount a person can lift one time) by decreasing the learning effect. It has a similar effect with the other functional or objective measures such as grip strength and pain-pressure threshold to decrease learning effect.

Once 1RM is determined (see 1RM test below), participants will be ranked in tertiles according to their 1RM in the leg press exercise and will then be randomly assigned to LIT+BFR, HIT, or control group. Randomization will be performed by Excel random generator. All participants will then undergo pre-testing that will include subjective questionnaires, and functional testing. Lab work will be performed by the rheumatologists as part of a participant's routine exam during the screening visit.

Investigators responsible for blood work and lab values will be blinded to participant allocation. A licensed and trained physical therapist, blinded to participant allocation, will be responsible for performing the functional tests. Testing will take a place on a separate day from the interventions. Due to the exercise-based intervention, participants will not be blinded to group allocation.

Prior to functional testing, each participant's blood pressure and heart rate will be measured to ensure safety with testing.

1RM test: participants will warm-up for 5 minutes on a stationary cycle. They will perform two light warm-up sets separated by a 2 minute rest. In the first set, participants will perform 8 repetitions of an estimated 50% 1RM. The second set of 8 will be adjusted to 70% 1RM. Participants will then have up to 5 attempts to achieve 1RM load with a 3 minute rest interval between attempts. 1RM test will be conducted on the leg press machine and knee extension machine.

The below outcome measures will be performed on all patient populations:

Pain: will be quantified at pre-testing and prior to each exercise session using the numeric pain rating scale. The participant will be asked to rank his/her current pain level and pain intensity in the last 24 hours.

Pain Pressure Threshold (PPT): the minimum force necessary to induce pain. PPT will be measured using a pressure algometer prior to exercise and post exercise 1 time per week at the proximal forearm and at the proximal tibialis anterior.

Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE): Scale used to measure an individual's perceived intensity of the exercise. This will be measured after each exercise session.

Walking ability, including balance, gait speed, endurance, and fall risk will be assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG), 10 meter walk, and 6 minute walk test (6MWT).

Grip strength: will be measured using a handheld dynamometer. Three trials per hand will be performed and averaged with 1 minute of rest between trials.

Bicep strength: will be measured using a handheld dynamometer. Three trials per arm will be performed and averaged with 1 minute rest between trials.

Short-Form 36 (SF-36): a generic outcome survey to quantify health status and health-related quality of life. A higher score indicates better health condition with 100 being the maximum score.

Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ): is a patient reported outcome questionnaire and is used to measure disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The below will only be given to patients with rheumatoid arthritis:

Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI): is a composite score of 4 parameters: tender and swollen joints, and a patient's and physician's global score of disease activity. This will be completed by the rheumatologist before and after the study.

The below will only be given to patients with osteoarthritis:

Knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS): a general assessment questionnaire regarding patient's opinion on their knee pain and associated problems. To be used for participants with knee OA.

Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS): a general assessment questionnaire regarding patient's opinion on their hip pain and associated problems. To be used for participants with hip OA.

Foot and Ankle Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (FAOS): a general assessment questionnaire regarding patient's opinion on their foot or ankle pain and associated problems. To be used for participants with foot or ankle OA.

Once a participant in the LIT+BFR or HIT has completed pre-testing and familiarization, he/she will return within one week to begin the exercise protocol. Participants in the control group will be advised to continue with their regular daily activity and will not return until reassessment testing at week 4 and then end of the study at week 8. Participants in LIT+BFR and HIT will come to the SAHP Faculty Clinic to perform their designated exercise program two times per week for 8 weeks. Prior to each exercise session, a participant's blood pressure and heart rate will be documented to ensure safety with proceeding with exercise. Heart rate and blood pressure will be logged and kept in a binder. Each participant's exercise program will be led by a trained research assistant or licensed physical therapist. A licensed physical therapist trained in blood flow restriction training and operation of the Delfi tourniquet system will be onsite for any questions or concerns that may arise during a participant's exercise program. Each participant will perform a standard set of exercises which is outlined below. Each participant will have the BFR cuff placed at the proximal thigh on the affected limb; only those in the LIT+BFR arm of the study will have the cuff inflated:

* Warm up: recumbent bike or stepper with or without blood flow restriction depending on allocation for 10 minutes.
* Knee extension machine (bilateral)
* Leg press (bilateral)

During the first week of training, participants will be introduced to the training load. Participants in the LIT+BFR will perform 20% of their 1RM and participants in HIT will perform 50% of 1RM. During the 2nd week of training intensity will be adjusted to 30% 1RM and 70% 1RM for LIT+BFR and HIT respectively. LIT+BFR will perform 1 set of 30 repetitions upon initiating weighted exercise (i.e. knee extension machine and leg press machine). After the completion of 30 repetitions of the respective exercise, he/she will perform an additional 3 sets of 15 repetitions. The HIT group will perform 4 sets of 10 repetitions of each respective exercise. A one minute rest will be allowed between all sets for each group

1RM will be reassessed at 4 weeks and training loads will be adjusted accordingly.

Blood flow restriction for participants in the LIT+BFR will be determined by the Delfi system. A full description of the Delfi system can be found in section 9.4. Briefly, a specialized blood pressure cuff will be applied to the proximal thigh prior to the start of each session. The Delfi system will measure the participant's full occlusion pressure and will then be adjusted to 80% of full occlusion to begin the exercise protocol. The occlusion pressure will be maintained throughout the exercise and will be relieved (reperfusion phase) after the completion of all sets of each individual exercise. The participant will be allowed to rest for up to 3 minutes between exercises. If a participant verbalizes discomfort, the occlusion pressure will be decreased and/or the repetitions or sets will be decreased. Participants will be allowed to stop the exercise protocol at any time should they experience significant discomfort.

A participant will be considered to have completed the study after participating in 8 weeks of exercise training with at least 12 of 16 intervention visits. At the end of the training protocol, the participant will again come to the SAHP Faculty Clinic within one week of study completion for post-testing. He/she will complete the questionnaires and functional testing as noted for pre-testing. He/she will go to the Rheumatology Clinic to complete routine blood work/lab values. Participants in the control group will come back for post testing after 8 weeks of continuing usual daily activity.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* diagnosis from LSUHSC-SHreveport Rheumatologist of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), or myositis
* stable medication for at least 3 months
* OA in weightbearing joints, and limited to non-advanced OA per Kellgren Lawrence grading
* cleared by rheumatologist for participation in high intensity training and blood flow restriction training

Exclusion Criteria:

* cardiovascular or other disease preventing exercise participation
* within past 6 months, have performed regular physical activity training or physical therapy
* one or more arthroplasty in weight-bearing joints
* taking more then 5mg of prednisone in past 3 months
* unable to perform timed up and go test, 10 meter walk test, or 6 minute walk test without more than supervision assistance; assistive devices can be used