Blood Flow Restriction Rehabilitation

Blood Flow Restriction Rehabilitation (BFR) 

Blood flow restriction rehabilitation, or BFR, is a new and different way to rehabilitate muscle injuries, particularly those occurring in an arm or leg.

BFR training has been around since the 1970’s, but didn’t catch on in the sports world until around 2015.  It has gained popularity with professional sports teams and even with Olympic athletes as an effective treatment to help athletes recover from injuries and return to play more quickly.  

There is a substantial amount of literature that has studied the effects of BFR.  Hundreds of research studies have been performed on BFR in just the few years alone and is becoming a valuable treatment option for those struggling with strength deficits and impaired mobility associated with musculoskeletal injuries.  

We are very excited to be able to offer this technology to our community at Live In Motion! 

What Is BFR?

Blood Flow Restriction training involves a brief and partial restriction of venous outflow of an extremity during low load resistance exercise.  

BFR uses an FDA-approved surgical tourniquet system (Delphi PTS) that looks very similar to a blood pressure cuff. The system is placed on an injured arm or leg to periodically reduce blood flow to the limb while the patient performs specific exercises.

Limiting blood flow to the muscles (a process called occlusion) allows the patient to work the muscles without placing excessive weight on the limb. The muscle is trained at a low intensity (20-30% of your maximum capacity or 1 Rep Max).

Who Benefits from BFR?

BFR can be safely used to rehab patients with many types of musculoskeletal injuries.  Positive results have been seen in patients after injury, in the elderly, and in athletes.  It has also been applied extensively in the military rehabilitation setting on severely compromised patients.  

BFR is most commonly used in patients recovering from:

  • Fractures that don’t grow back together or heal properly
  • ACL injuries and other sprains/strains
  • Rotator cuff injuries
  • Achilles tendon injuries
  • Total Joint Replacements
  • Symptomatic Joint Arthritis

How Does BFR Rehabilitation Work?

The exact mechanism behind the positive results seen with PBFR is still being extensively researched, and is most likely a combination of multiple factors. Theories range from a significant build up of metabolites by anaerobic metabolism, a systemic anabolic response and cellular swelling. It does appear that muscle protein synthesis plays a primary role as this has been consistently demonstrated in the literature. It can be incorporated into traditional physical therapy sessions, just as other techniques or equipment might be.

Results with BFR

Blood flow restriction rehabilitation training (BFR) is a game-changing injury recovery therapy that is producing dramatically positive results:

  • Diminish atrophy and loss of strength from disuse and non-weight bearing after injuries
  • Increase strength and hypertrophy with only 30% loads
  • Improve muscle endurance in 1/3 the time
  • Improve muscle protein synthesis in the elderly
  • Improve strength and hypertrophy after surgery
  • Improve muscle activation
  • Increase growth hormone responses which increases collagen synthesis
    • Important for tissue regeneration after injury

Is it safe?

This is the first and most obvious concern with the implementation of BFR. Several studies have examined the safety of BFR.

  • BFR does not increase clot risk. In fact, both blood flow restriction training and heavy resistance training are associated with the release of several anti-coagulation factors  and studies have shown no increases in clots when BFR training programs are implemented.
  • BFR isn’t damaging the heart and/or blood vessels.   BFR training does increase blood pressure and heart rate but research has shown blood pressure readings to only increase to 180/100mmHG and heart rate values to 110 BPM. Both considerably lower than that seen with heavy resistance training.
  • Risk factors for injury – improper tourniquet width, too much tourniquet pressure, and improper placement of the tourniquet. These risk factors are significantly reduced with our training and the use of the Delphi PTS system which has built in safety features such as the ability to detect limb occlusion pressure when performing BFR.

Our BFR device

  • The gold standard blood flow restriction training device is the Delfi Personal Tourniquet System from Owens Recovery Science. This FDA approved device contains a Doppler ultrasound within the blood flow restriction cuff and provides the most accurate way to measure blood flow in the extremity and can precisely and safely occlude the appropriate amount of flow.

For more information please refer to Owens Recovery Science or give us a call at 701-651-4325.