A novel short-course, low-intensity blood-flow-restricted exercise (BFRE) regimen to study satellite cell function in critical illness survivors with sustained muscle atrophy following intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICUAW).

Introduction: ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW) develops in critically ill patients and can persist after hospital discharge, resulting in physical disability. Decreased satellite cell content is reported in the atrophic muscle of critical illness survivors, suggesting that the sustained muscle wasting results from satellite cell dysfunction and impaired muscle regeneration. Intense resistance exercise stimulates satellite cell proliferation and can be used to study the satellite cell role in persisting muscle atrophy following ICU discharge; however, the intensity of exercise required can be intolerable for older or frail ICU survivors.