Geary Rehabilitation and Fitness Center has begun utilizing Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Therapy as a treatment approach to help patients rehabilitate from injury or pain. BFR is a treatment strategy that temporarily restricts blood flow from vessels to the muscles in your arm or leg. By limiting the blood flow to the muscles, you can exercise them with light resistance, but stimulate the muscles in a similar manner as performing moderately weighted activity. This can help build strength in the muscles, while limiting strain on the joints, tendons, and ligaments of the surrounding area. It can be beneficial for people after a surgery, when their muscles become weak but they cannot tolerate heavy exercises due to surgical restrictions. It is also helpful if you have arthritis or other joint problems that limit the amount of weight you can lift.
BFR involves utilizing a specialized machine, similar to a blood pressure cuff, which partially limits the blood flow to your limb. While the blood flow is limited, the patient performs exercise that is selected by your therapist to appropriately stimulate muscle strength and growth. The exercise should feel challenging, and you should feel your muscles working hard. The idea is to simulate a heavy, intense workout; so you may begin to sweat and have increased heart rate. The cuff will continue to limit the blood supply during all of the sets of the exercise, and will release once the exercise is completed. You will likely feel soreness in the muscles being worked, which is normal and expected. The soreness will typically subside in 24 hours.
BFR exercise is part of your complete treatment plan, but not the entirety. You will also perform exercises without the blood flow restriction, as well as receive other treatments that your therapist determines are appropriate and beneficial.
If you feel that BFR therapy may be beneficial, you can ask your doctor for a referral for Physical Therapy. Once a physical therapist has performed an evaluation, they can determine if BFR is an appropriate treatment to address your particular condition.
Now you know a little bit about Blood Flow Restriction Therapy….and knowing is half the battle.
