Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42804459›Full record

Trial reportPloS one2026

Effects of blood flow restriction combined with visual feedback training on lower limb function and the serum levels of BDNF and VEGF in patients with stroke.

Hai Jiang, Chengzhuo Yang, Pan Wang, Mei Yu, Yijun Wang, Cuiting Wang, Deng Xiao

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Hai JiangDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Chengzhuo YangDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Pan WangDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Mei YuDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Yijun WangDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Cuiting WangDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Deng XiaoDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0764-5816

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study aimed to investigate the effects of blood flow restriction training (BFRT) combined with visual feedback training (VFT) on lower limb function and serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with stroke.

methodsForty patients with stroke who were hospitalized at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between July 2025 and May 2026 were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the VFT group (control group) or the BFRT combined with VFT group (experimental group). The control group received VFT in addition to conventional rehabilitation, whereas the experimental group received BFRT combined with VFT on the basis of conventional rehabilitation. After 4 weeks of treatment, manual muscle testing (MMT), the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Lower Extremity (FMA-LE), the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), the Functional Ambulation Category (FAC), the Pro-Kin balance test, and serum levels of BDNF and VEGF were compared between the two groups.

resultsCompared with baseline, MMT, FMA-LE, MBI, and FAC scores significantly increased in both groups after 4 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05), with greater improvements observed in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.05). TUGT performance also improved significantly in both groups compared with baseline (P < 0.05), with the experimental group demonstrating significantly greater improvement than the control group (P < 0.05). Following treatment, Pro-Kin balance test performance improved significantly in both groups (P < 0.05), and the experimental group achieved better results than the control group (P < 0.05). Serum levels of BDNF and VEGF increased significantly in both groups after the intervention (P < 0.05), with significantly greater increases observed in the experimental group (P < 0.05).

conclusionBFRT combined with VFT can significantly improve balance, lower limb function, and activities of daily living in patients with stroke. It also effectively increases serum levels of BDNF and VEGF, thereby promoting neurovascular plasticity.

Indexed as

Blood Flow Restriction TherapyBrain-Derived Neurotrophic FactorFeedback, SensoryLower ExtremityStrokeStroke RehabilitationVascular Endothelial Growth Factor AAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedBDNF protein, humanBrain-Derived Neurotrophic FactorVascular Endothelial Growth Factor AVEGFA protein, human

Identifiers

PMID42804459
PMCPMC13618907

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.