Intro to Blood Flow Restriction Training
What is Blood Flow Restriction (BFR)? BFR training is a a revolutionary way to gain strength and conditioning during times of injury, pre-op, post-op, and while managing arthritis.
How is it done? A tourniquet system is used during exercise to restrict venous return while allowing arterial blood flow. This is done to create an artificially stressed environment (anaerobic) in order to produce the physiological effects one would get from higher intensity exercise. For example, you can use BFR with very light loads and get nearly the same benefits as lifting heavy loads - without the same stress on joints and tendons.
Who Benefits from BFR? Anyone trying to maintain or gain strength and endurance while limited in their ability to exercise due to an injury, surgery, or arthritis.
What are the benefits of BFR? Benefits can be achieved in as little as 2 weeks and include:
Diminish atrophy/loss of strength from disuse and non-weight bearing after injuries
Increase strength with minimum loads
Improve hypertrophy with minimum loads
Improve endurance in 1/3 of the time
Improve muscle protein synthesis, hypertrophy, and activation
Increase growth hormone responses
Increase release of progenitor cells
Improve collagen healing
Minimize undesirable scar formation
Are all BFR programs created equal? No, the education of your provider and the quality of equipment can affect the safety and effectiveness of the treatment. At Rocky Mountain TheraPros we only use Delfi Personalized Tourniquet Systems. The Delfi system has a built in doppler which continually monitors your blood flow and creates a personalized tourniquet pressure throughout the session. Your Therapist at Rocky Mountain TheraPros has been trained by the most renowned Blood Flow Restriction education team in the US: Owens Recovery Science.
To geek out, go to the Godfather’s website at Owen’s Recovery Science.
Schedule your BFR session here
Not sure if it is right for you? Lets chat. Shoot me an email or hear my voice…