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After a serious injury, surgery and recovery can take a toll on the body. Regaining muscle strength can be an uphill battle of slow, incremental progress to reach the level and skill once attained.
Blood flow restriction therapy (BFR) partially interrupts this process to aid recovery without greatly impacting muscle strength. Learn more about this method.
What Is Blood Flow Restriction Therapy?
Blood flow restriction therapy helps the injured muscle hold onto low-oxygen blood, while providing a flow of oxygenated blood to the tissue. Facilitated by a cuff, this process helps preserve muscle strength and growth during recovery, lessening potential atrophy and soreness.
Similar to the one worn for checking blood pressure, the cuff temporarily restricts blood flow to the affected area to produce an anaerobic response. At the same time, a physical therapist directs the patient to perform exercises to exhaust the affected muscles and encourage healing. This produces a similar result as weightlifting, without requiring the muscles and joints to support weight.
How Blood Flow Restriction Therapy Works
Once the cuff is placed on the patient’s arm to apply pressure, it reduces the amount of oxygen flowing to the affected muscle. At this point:
- Decreasing oxygen levels signal to the body that it’s pushing harder than it really is.
- The patient may lift a lighter weight or engage in another exercise to rebuild or preserve muscle strength.
- The physical therapist monitors blood flow and blood pressure as well as vital signs, while adjusting the cuff’s pressure as the patient engages in physical activity.
- BFR is often performed once or twice per week during a patient’s recovery.
- Lactate and hydrogen ions start to build up in the muscle tissue, generating an anabolic response that triggers the hormones necessary for building the muscles and strength.
- In response, the body starts to release multiple growth factors that encourage new blood vessels to form and enhance the brain-body neurological connection.
In terms of injury recovery, BFR:
- Is ideal for improving strength with weight-bearing restrictions.
- Delivers similar results as strength training or high-intensity resistance training to limit muscle atrophy.
- Places less stress on the affected muscles and joints.
- Is a low-resistance approach, so athletes and workers relying on body strength have sufficient muscle mass to begin the strengthening phase of their recovery.
Injuries and Conditions Ideally Treated With BFR
Blood flow restriction therapy can be applied to nearly any part of the body as a patient recovers from a surgical or non-surgical procedure and must restrict the weight they lift. The technique can assist with recovery and managing pain related to:
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Tennis elbow
- Achilles tendonitis
- UCL and ACL injuries
- Meniscus tears and other injuries
- Torn hamstring muscles
- Hip injuries
- Injuries involving the thigh muscles
- Ankle injuries
- Tendonitis
However, BFR should not be used by patients:
- With circulation issues
- Who have a chronic or other active disease
- Recovering from an infection
- Who experience blood clots
- With a cardiovascular condition
- Who are pregnant
- Receiving cancer treatment
BFR can be beneficial for injuries involving damaged, weakened or atrophied muscles, including:
- Athletes who want to get back to practice following surgery
- Elderly patients recovering from a joint injury
- Individuals recovering from knee, foot, ankle or shoulder surgery
- Those who have osteoporosis or chronic fractures and cannot lift heavy weights.
The team at Integrated Rehab consists of certified physical therapists who use blood flow restriction therapy in select treatment plans. To learn if you’re a good candidate, contact us today.