Think of the last time that you injured your arm or leg or needed physical therapy. If you haven’t had an extremity injury, or needed sports physical therapy, congratulations, and I guess you must use your imagination.
You saw your doctor for help, and they told you to rest your injured limb for at least 4 weeks. You have no choice but to relax and allow your injured limb to get small and weak.
This is where blood flow restriction (BFR) training is a helpful part of the physical therapy process. A cuff or strap is placed tightly around a limb to reduce blood flow but not entirely block it. Exercise is then performed in this state.
This allows you to exercise at a lower intensity but enjoy many benefits of high-intensity training, such as muscle growth and improved strength.
While BFR can’t replace regular training, it is an excellent option for people that want to speed up their return from injury or are searching for ways to exercise without beating up their joints.
But restricting blood flow sounds sketchy. Is it safe?
Yes. Research has shown that BFR is safe when used with patients with no contraindications to it. As with all things, it can be unsafe when misused or placed in the wrong hands.
At Cohen Health and Performance, we use BFR both in McLean and Bethesda to limit weakness and muscle atrophy after surgery. Our patients recovering from knee surgery, such as an ACL reconstruction, have seen great results. When more strength is preserved, people have a faster recovery.
But the benefits extend far beyond people recovering from surgery. People struggling with chronic and overuse injuries can use BFR to maintain their strength without interrupting recovery. This helps people to return to the entirety of their active lifestyles much quicker.
Interested in using BFR to speed up your recovery from an injury or help you with your training? Contact us!
