Acute Cardiovascular and Neuromuscular Responses to Walking With Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) in Older Adults

The goal of this clinical trial is to explore how walking combined with different levels of partial blood flow restriction (BFR) affects cardiovascular, neuromuscular, and movement (kinematic) variables in older adults.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does walking with BFR increase internal effort, as shown by cardiovascular changes, and is this effect proportional to the level of restriction?

Does walking with BFR temporarily reduce neuromuscular control, and is this reduction greater at higher restriction levels?

Does walking with BFR change gait movement patterns?

This study uses a crossover design, meaning that each participant will complete all four conditions and serve as their own control.

Participants will:

Take part in walking sessions under four conditions with different levels of restriction: BFR40%, BFR80%, SHAM (0% BFR), and CON (without BFR).

Have their cardiovascular responses, muscle performance, and gait movement patterns measured.

Report their perceptions of the sessions, including Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE), satisfaction, and possible side effects.