Blood Flow Restriction in Physical Therapy and its Astounding Results
Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.
By Eric Faatz
Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) is becoming a practice that is being utilized more frequently in helping people return from injury – and with eye-opening results.
The method consists of placing a cuff around the most proximal portion of an upper or lower extremity while the cuff applies a controlled and specific amount of pressure to the limb. The pressure cuff restricts the blood flow to the muscles that are associated with the limb but allows the blood flow returning from the extremity to stay at a normal rate.
The restriction of blood flow allows the muscles to become fatigued quickly, which helps elicit a strength response much faster than with traditional exercise. Since muscle tissue becomes tired much faster during BFR training, the individual exercising does not have to use heavy weights to achieve an increase in strength and muscle growth.
Using lighter weights during exercise allows for greater safety initially for post-operative patients, such as those who undergo ACL reconstruction, biceps tendon reconstruction, Achilles tendon repair and many other operations.
After having major orthopedic surgery, the tissues are highly sensitive and have restrictions and limitations placed upon the patient to ensure the safety of the repaired tissue. These restrictions typically include limitations on range of motion, non-weight bearing use of a fixation brace and other options based on the type of surgery.
This is where implementation of a BRF cuff and protocol become most useful. In a review at St. Mary’s University–London, proper integration of BFR training protocol into ACL rehabilitation resulted in reducing the amount of muscle atrophy post-surgery, an increase in muscle protein synthesis and decreased loss of muscular motor patterns in patients. These previously common hurdles in ACL rehabilitation are becoming easier to address early on following surgery without compromising the graft health with the use of BFR training.
In another systematic review through multiple studies, use of BFR protocols in post-ACL reconstruction therapy correlated with an increase in quadricep cross-sectional muscle. Maintaining muscle during recovery from any surgery can only be advantageous for the patient’s return to activity.
Through cross-analysis of these two and many other existing studies, integration of a BFR program along with physical therapy can help make an immense difference in the recovery from surgery and in the later stages of recovery and a return to sport.
BFR training does not only benefit post-surgical patients but can be an addition to an individual’s fitness and exercise program. In a 2014 study reported in the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, a group of trained athletes integrated BFR protocols into their weightlifting sessions three times per week for three weeks. When compared to an equal number of athletes performing the same weightlifting program but without the BFR integration, the BFR group showed greater improvement in squat strength, maximum top speed and power output and increased tolerance to stress from exercise. When applied appropriately by a licensed exercise professional, BFR can become an amazing tool to use during athlete performance training.
Integration of BFR is safe and effective along with physical therapy and exercise. While it can be a useful tool to utilize, a certified healthcare professional should always be the one to integrate the use of BFR into an individual’s program.
Eric Faat is a certified athletic trainer for ProClinix Sports Physical Therapy & Chiropractic in Armonk. For any questions about this article or our services, call 914-202-0700 or e-mail Eric at efaatz@proclinix.com.
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