Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Training
If you struggle with weight lifting, you can visit us at the OneRehab multispecialty therapy center for evaluation and assessment. We use diverse techniques and blood flow restriction training is one of our areas of mastery.
BFR Overview
Blood flow restriction (BFR) is used in physical therapy to improve recovery. Injuries can affect patients, leaving them unable to lift heavy weights. It could be because of pain, surgery, or being immobilized. Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) is a physical therapy technique that is improving the rehabilitation experience. This method allows patients to gain the benefit of intense heavy weight lifting training by performing moderate-intensity training. At OneRehab, we use this scientifically backed method to help you safely rehabilitate.
What is Blood Flow Restriction Training?
The technique involves restricting blood flow during low-intensity exercises to get the same effect high-intensity training would give. Previously, the technique was known as “kaatsu training“.
BFR training entails using the FDA-approved medical tourniquet device as you go through low to moderate training. The device reduces the blood from and to the engaged muscles safely and customized to the patient. To determine the patients’ LOP or limb occlusion pressure, the physical therapist uses an ultrasound doppler. As a result, the pressure is custom-designed for the patient, making the BFR training safer and more effective.
Benefits of Blood Flow Restriction Intervention
You will experience a lot of benefits from Personalized Blood Flow Restriction. Such include:
- Increased muscular strength
- Muscle atrophy prevention
- New and healthier blood vessels formation
- Improved muscular cross-sectional area
- Reduced cardiovascular disease risk
- Increase in bone mineral density
- Increased endurance
Physical therapy can sometimes be a painful process. Using the PBFR technique reduces the pain experienced, which leads to a more productive therapy session. We have licensed physiotherapists who skillfully take you through the BFR training to help increase the chances of success during the rehab sessions. Additionally, this method promotes the effective healing of muscles, bones, and tendons.
How Blood Flow Restriction Affects Muscle Strength
Blood flow restriction training imitates the effects of high-intensity exercises by using a cuff. Physical therapists place the cuff near the targeted muscles and then begin low-intensity exercises. The cuff limits the blood outflow, and the blood with the low oxygen collects increasing lactic acid and protons. As a result, it causes a release of hormones, cell swelling, and hypoxia during low-intensity exercise, as you would experience during a high-intensity workout.
- Low-intensity BRF training leads to greater muscle circumference when compared to a normal workout session.
- Short duration, low-intensity BFR training: When you engage in these exercises for 4-6 weeks, you experience a 10-20% muscle strength increase.
- It also causes an increase in muscle cells or cell swelling. BFR also leads to the engagement of fast-twitch muscle fibers. Once the physician removes the cuff, it leads to an excess of blood flow in the vessels or hyperemia, leading to further muscle swelling.
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Who Needs Blood Flow Restriction Training?
There are three categories of people who can benefit from the Blood Flow Restriction training technique:
Post-surgery patients
If you or your loved one has gone through ACL reconstruction, knee or hip replacement, achilles repair, and other types of surgeries, BFR training is highly effective. At the physical clinic center, we focus on making the area around the affected area strong enough quickly. BFR allows muscles to regain strength without putting the affected area through too much strain.
Injured Athletes
At OneRehab, we also employ the BFR technique in our sports program to help athletes recover from common injuries. This method reduces the duration of time away from sports. BFR helps achieve a high training effect at moderate training protecting the injured area.
Other Conditions
BFR training is effective even for people with conditions such as arthritis, hip, or knee injury. It makes the muscles around these areas strong without inflicting joint pain.
Blood Flow Restriction Training Contraindications
Known side effects of BFR training include delayed onset muscle soreness, pain and discomfort, fainting, numbness, and dizziness. Before attempting to go for the procedure, all patients need a thorough assessment.
You are at risk of developing reactions to BFR if you have a poor circulatory system, diabetes, sickle cell, obesity, renal compromise, or severe hypertension. Other people who should avoid BFR training are people with venous thromboembolism, sickle cell anemia, tumor or cancer, acidosis, open fracture, and increased intracranial pressure vascular grafts. If you are taking medication to increase clotting risk, you should also avoid this form of treatment.
BFR Equipment and Requirement
BFR Cuff
During blood flow restriction training physical therapy, the therapist places the tourniquet on a limb. It requires specific pressure to block the veins flow but still allows the arterial flow to continue during the exercises. The physician can use blood flow restriction training bands, surgical tubing, or elastic straps. Using a thin diameter can lead to increased pressure causing tissue damage.
BFR Cuff Width
A wide cuff is ideal when administering BFR. Ideally, one needs to use 10-12 cm cuffs. A 15 cm wide cuff offers an even restriction. Blood flow restriction training smart cuffs are designed to fit the natural arm or thigh contour.
BFR Cuff Material
These cuffs are normally made up of nylon or elastic. Elastic cuffs contain an initial constraint which makes it better than nylon.
BFR Pressure
There are different blood flow restriction training cuffs pressure. At OneRehab, our physical therapists use specific pressure for each patient. Different pressures limit the amount of blood flow differently in each patient under shared conditions. A physician can use plethysmography or Doppler ultrasound to determine the ideal pressure. The width of the cuff also affects the pressure.
Ideally, we make sure that patients are exercising under optimal pressure. We ensure that it is safe for them to exercise without resulting in tissue damage. It also ensures the pressure is highly effective and not too low.
Faster Rehabilitation Gains
Blood flow restriction training helps by releasing growth hormones which are good for driving muscle growth. It also increases muscle fiber activation and heart rate, which is good cardio training. These effects make BFR a game changer in physical therapy. It aids in repairing tendon, muscle, or bone injuries.
At OneRehab multispecialty therapy, we use Personalized Blood Flow Restriction to help you increase your recovery speed. Contact us for evaluation and individualized treatment.
OneRehab
1761 International Pkwy Suite 135, Richardson, TX 75081, United States
Email Us
info@onerehab.com
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972 845 7875
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