Blood restriction therapy professional#

How does it work? The exact mechanism on how BFR affects the body, specifically the muscle tissue, is still being extensively research, but it is thought that this is achieved through multiple factors: - Cellular swelling: BFR produces an influx of fluid into the muscle cell that threatens the cell’s ultrastructure forcing it to kick in muscle protein synthesis to keep the cell from dying. This allows us, as rehabilitation professionals, to begin strengthening and hypertrophy phases much sooner in the rehab protocol.

With BFR, you’re able to achieve those strength and hypertrophy gains at only 20% of your 1 RM. That is almost impossible for someone to do a week out of most injuries or surgeries. In order to see strength or hypertrophy in an extremity, you have to be able to exercise or lift heavy around 70% of your 1 rep max (RM). The last thing you even want to think about doing is exercising or trying to get stronger. This usually leads to weakness or atrophy, spasm, and more pain. Typically, when you’re in pain, it hurts to move the involved extremity, so you don’t. Why would someone use BFR? If you’re suffering from an injury, preparing for surgery, or recovering from surgery, usually you’re in pain. Typically, one session consists of about 5 exercises or about 30 minutes with a one minute deflate between each exercise.

The system is then deflated for 1 minute, and then re-inflated for another exercise. This is designed to only be performed for a short period of time approximately 5-6 minutes while an exercise is performed. This practice has been going on for ages, but within the last 5-10 years, it has been gaining popularity through extensive research. What is it? Personalized BFR is the application of a cuff/tourniquet system around the upper arm or upper thigh which is then inflated to your specific pressure to occlude a portion of the arterial blood flow into the extremity and the venous outflow of blood from the extremity. This post’s main focus will be on its application in the rehab setting. Why would someone do this? Does it work? Is it a fad? Is it safe? BFR is gaining popularity throughout the performance (gym, fitness center, weight room) setting and rehabilitation setting.

Bands, straps, or cuffs being applied or wrapped around the person’s upper arms or upper thighs to try and cut off some of the blood supply to the limb while they do some sort of exercise.

Blood restriction therapy professional#

Kyle Schumacher, PT, DPT, LAT You may have seen it in Men’s Health, Forbes, on ESPN, your local news channel with professional athletes or witnessed in it in person at the gym.