I'm Brett Jansen, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, and I see patients at Janssen, Neenah and Grand Chute locations. Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) involves the partial occlusion of venous blood flow using a surgical-grade tourniquet. This technique allows you to exercise with significantly lighter weights while still achieving hypertrophy (muscle growth) and strength gains.
Traditionally, achieving hypertrophy and strength gains requires training with very heavy loads. However, with Blood Flow Restriction, you can train with much lighter loads and still experience these strength gains. This is particularly beneficial for patients who have an injury or are recovering from surgery. The goal is to trap blood in the muscles to create positive changes through exercise.
The pressure applied during BFR varies based on the size of your limb, your blood pressure, and your tolerance to the activity, which will improve over time. Your physical therapist will discuss potential contraindications with you to determine if this modality is appropriate for you. Once your personalized pressure is determined, you will begin exercises based on your specific rehabilitation plan.
Even though you are lifting a lightweight or even just your body weight, your muscles will start to feel a strong response to Blood Flow Restriction Training. The recommended rep scheme for BFR training is 30 reps, followed by three sets of 15 reps each. With each progressive set, more blood is trapped in the muscle, building up lactate and eliciting the desired physiological responses to build more strength.
