Blood Flow Restriction TrainingIn Fort Collins, Windsor and surrounding cities
Improving muscular strength is an important goal of physical therapy. Symptoms such as pain and stiffness are common roadblocks to building strength when recovering from injury.
BFRT is utilized by sports medicine professionals in the rehab setting with orthopedic injuries pre and post-op as well as with athletes of all ages to help improve their functional outcomes faster! It was first pioneered by a U.S. Military rehab professional working with limb salvage patients.
WHAT IS BFRT?
BFRT assists in improving strength and hypertrophy by manipulating the SCIENCE behind strength training. This allows rehab professionals to increase muscle strength and hypertrophy using lower training volumes while maintaining MD protocols during the essential “protection” phase for our post-op patients.
HOW DOES BFRT WORK?
To enhance both muscle mass and strength, high-intensity resistance exercises with loads approximately 70-85 % of 1-Repetition Maximum (1-RM) are recommended. However, heavy-load-resistance exercise may not be possible with injuries that do not allow heavy strength training. BFRT utilizes a tourniquet-style pressure that safely restricts venous blood flow. Restricted blood flow combined with light resistance exercise facilitates muscle protein synthesis and metabolic accumulation, resulting in similar gains as heavy strength training.
WHICH PATIENTS ARE INDICATED FOR BFRT?
- Orthopedic dysfunctions: Muscle strains, Ligament sprains, Joint pain
- Athletes: Sports performance
- Post operative: Allows for early strengthening and hypertrophy of musculature while in protective or immobilized phase post-op.
WHAT DOES BFRT ACCOMPLISH?
- Increase muscle size, strength, and activation
- Increase VO2 max
- Decrease scar tissue and pain
- Increase collagen synthesis for tendons, cartilage, and bone
- Reduce post-surgical atrophy
- Increase anti-clotting factors