BLOOD FLOW RESTRICTION TRAINING HOW IT CAN HELP YOU

As mentioned in our previous newsletter, my team and I provide the most upto date and cutting-edge technology we can for our patients. Our goal is to help our clients get back to their normal lives pain free, so they can do the things they love without discomfort. We’re constantly on the lookout for new techniques that can give our patients additional means to achieve their goals. One very unique service we provide in our area, that no one else provides, is blood flow restriction (BFR) training.

Peak Performance Sports and Spine has specialized in BFR training for 2 1/2 years, and we see remarkable results in our patients who undergo the training. This training method is growing steadily in popularity among athletes and professional sports teams. Through BFR, individuals who experience injury in their joints can receive the same benefits of a weightlifting workout, without the strenuous labor of lifting heavy objects or weights. This training can also benefit older adults or anyone who cannot increase muscle strength through heavy lifting.

For example, an individual who has had a knee injury or surgery and cannot apply significant pressure to their knee can increase the strength of their muscles through BFR. BFR uses a computerized tourniquet system that restricts the blood flowing in or out of either the arms or legs. A specialized tourniquet cuff is attached to the upper part of the legs or arms where pressure is then applied and restricts the blood flowing in and out of the limb. This cuff needs to be wide enough to use the exact amount of pressure the person needs to reduce blood flow without harming the nerves. The pressure required for safe and successful training depends on the particular person. Blood pressure; the size of the limb being treated; how much muscle mass is there; where the tourniquet cuff is placed; and how wide the cuff is all need to be taken into account. The arterial blood flow, or the blood going into the limb, is reduced up to 80 percent, while the venous blood flow, which is the blood flowing out of the limb, is reduced by 100 percent. This restriction minimizes the oxygen that flows into the limb and its muscles. In this state, the individual is then put through relatively easy exercises where their muscles become active, with very little oxygen. In doing so, the patient can increase strength in that limb with little or no resistance, generating the same effect as heavy weightlifting without causing any pain to their joint.

Feel free to contact us if you’d like to learn more about Blood Flow Restriction.