A New Way to Exercise Without Pain
Many people with muscle weakness are unable to tolerate traditional strengthening exercises. Examples of people who do not respond well to strength training include those recovering from surgeries like joint replacements and ACL reconstruction. Also, many people with arthritis, tendonitis, diabetes, chronic pain, and COPD have exacerbations exercising with heavy weights. Blood flow restriction therapy is a new approach that allows you to exercise without pain.
How Blow Flow Restriction Therapy Works
Blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy is an exercise method that partially restricts blood flow in your arteries and fully restricts blood flow in your veins of working muscles. BFR therapy uses a cuff and tourniquet that applies a safe pressure to your exercising arms or legs. There is gradual compression of the blood flow underneath the cuff. Restricting blood flow limits oxygen to your working muscles. Exercising with limited blood flow to muscles leads to a series of benefits.
Benefits of BFR Therapy
- Increased muscle size and strength
- Decreased pain
- Increased tendon thickness and strength
- Improvements in bone density
- Improvements in blood flow to your legs
BFR: A Proven Approach to Physical Therapy
Smart Cuffs BFR Training Tools
Research on BFR therapy is growing rapidly. Here is a summary of the evidence supporting BFR therapy.
- BFR is proven to improve walking ability and speed in adults older than 60.
- In athletes, BFR is proven to increase muscle size and strength and also improve sports performance.
- Compared to heavy strength training, BFR increases muscle strength with less pain while exercising in patients with various knee disorders.
- BFR increases strength and decreases pain in patients with knee arthritis and those recovering from surgery.
Schedule An Appointment Today
The physical therapists at BSR are certified to prescribe and administer blood flow restriction therapy. Call one of our clinics to make an appointment with your physical therapist.
- Barnegat Clinic: 609.698.1073
- Manahawkin Clinic: 609.549.5015
