Tourniquet Use During Knee Replacement Surgery May Contribute to Muscle Atrophy in Older Adults

Muscle atrophy after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) occurs at a rate of 1% per day for the first 2 wk. Our hypothesis is that tourniquet-induced ischemia-reperfusion injury occurring during TKA influences metabolism and may contribute to atrophy. Identifying pathways that are upregulated during this critical “14-d window” after surgery may help us delineate therapeutic approaches to avoid muscle loss.

Source: Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews - March 19, 2016 Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Articles Source Type: research