Rehabilitation, Performance and Recovery
Blood Flow Restriction Training (BFRT) is a new and popular treatment intervention that can help you return to the activities that you love. BFRT uses blood flow pressures that are individualized to your body and overall goals to train muscles more efficiently as well as improve cardiovascular function for people of all ages. This can be especially useful in the early post surgery or non weight bearing portions of recovery when you are limited to a cast, boot, or brace. In this time, BFRT can provide a more challenging way to strengthen supporting muscles and limit the muscle atrophy and deconditioning that can often be associated with mobility restrictions.
How does it work?
BFRT is done by having the patient wear a cuff around either their thigh or arm set to a specific and individualized pressure determined by an external doppler. The FDA certified cuffs safely and intermittently restrict blood flow to a muscle region to improve strength, gain muscle size, improve bone density, enhance recovery, and increase cardiovascular performance. BFRT allows for similar improvements in strength that one would see with heavy weight training, however uses light loads to spare surrounding joints.
Conditions that may benefit from utilizing Blood Flow Restriction Training:
- Pre- & post-operative
- Joint and muscle injuries
- Muscle weakness
- Ligament injuries
- Recovery from heavy workouts
- Osteoarthritis
- Joint replacements
Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) services are available at select Therapeutic Associates Physical Therapy clinics performed by trained clinicians. Talk to your physical therapist to determine if BFRT is right for you.