If you’ve been injured or are recovering from orthopedic surgery, blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy is a proven strengthening technique that can aid your recovery.
By exercising a target muscle group while reducing the blood flow to the same area, you can regain endurance, strength and muscle growth without stressing joints or tissues that are still healing. BFR therapy can also help prevent muscle atrophy and muscle soreness.
Blood flow restriction therapy, also known as BFR therapy or occlusion training, is a type of physical therapy treatment that uses a cuff to temporarily restrict blood flow to a muscle, or a group of muscles, while exercising. This cuff is similar to the cuff you wear during blood pressure checks, and you’ll wear it on the upper portion of the arm or leg.
During BFR therapy, the cuff you wear partially restricts blood from leaving the limb while still allowing new blood to enter. Restricting blood flow causes metabolic stress and reduces the oxygen level in certain muscles, creating a physiological demand on the muscles that makes the body think it’s working harder than it is. This enables you to lift lighter weights and get the same benefit as though you were lifting something much heavier, which then increases the hormone production necessary to build muscles and help you get stronger.
The amount of pressure used to restrict blood flow is adjusted based on each patient’s needs and may vary between sessions. While pressure is applied, you’ll perform directed exercises to tire the muscles in the targeted area. This helps to stimulate the body’s natural healing capabilities. The exercises we’ll guide you through vary depending on your unique needs, but a BFR therapy session typically combines high-repetition and low-repetition sets with rest breaks in between.
BFR is a great training option for people who have weight-bearing restrictions during recovery from an injury or after surgery. Combining low-intensity exercises with blood flow restriction creates a similar feeling to when you’re performing moderate to high-intensity resistance training.
One of the biggest benefits of blood flow restriction training is you’re able to gain strength while working out with lower weights. Compared to regular weight training, BFR training helps you get the same strength and muscle gainswhile lifting only about 20-30% of the weight of your single repetition maximum effort. This means you’ll put less strain on your tendons and joints during lifting.
Other benefits of BFR training include:
- Better overall fitness levels
- Improved bone density and muscle mass
- Increased energy
- Less muscle soreness after training sessions
- Muscle loss prevention
- Smoother recovery following injuries or surgery
- Quicker recovery after training
Many people can benefit from including blood flow restriction therapy as part of their physical therapy plan. We often recommend BFR therapy for patients recovering from surgical procedures or nonsurgical treatments to help their recovery and relieve pain. This type of treatment is especially useful for people who have weight-bearing restrictions.
BFR training can be used to treat any part of the body, whether you’re recovering from knee replacement surgery, a shoulder injury or anything in between. Your physical therapist will talk with you about BFR training, answer your questions and let you know if this type of treatment would be a good fit for your unique needs and recovery goals.
Blood flow restriction therapy is often included as part of rehabilitation after orthopedic surgery, but it can also help people recover from injuries. BFR therapy is commonly used to treat:
How often you should have BFR therapy depends on several factors, including your training goals, condition and overall health. Some people benefit from BFR a few times a week, while others don’t need it as frequently. Our physical therapists will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan based on your needs.
Yes, blood flow restriction training is generally safe. Studies show this kind of training is as low risk as traditional exercise. If you have a heart condition, issues with blood clots, are pregnant or have cancer, it is best to consult your doctor first.
Most side effects of blood flow restriction therapy are minor. Some people experience muscle “burn,” soreness or fatigue after training, just like you might feel after a vigorous workout.
Other possible side effects of blood flow restriction training include lightheadedness, temporary numbness or tingling in the muscle, and temporary skin discoloration where you wore the cuff. If you experience any of these side effects, let your physical therapist know. We’ll work with you to reduce the chance that you’ll experience them again in your next session.
We accept most health insurance plans, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Cigna, HealthPartners, Medica and many others. To learn how your plan covers the services you need, call the number on the back of your insurance card. Here are member services numbers to help you get started:
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota: 800-382-2000
- Cigna: 800-244-6224
- HealthPartners: 800-883-2177
- Medica: 800-952-3455
- Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
- UnitedHealthcare: 877-842-3210