On Episode 11, The Sports Docs are focusing on blood flow restriction therapy or “BFR”. Blood flow restriction is one type of ischemic therapy that is thought to increase muscle mass, strength and performance at a lower level of resistance training. And that last part really is the key, because training at high loads is often not possible for our patients undergoing rehab for an injury or postoperatively.
BFR involves the use of a cuff or tourniquet system positioned at the upper part of the limb to restrict venous blood return while maintaining arterial inflow. While the exact mechanism of BFR remains unclear, restriction of venous outflow leads to an anaerobic – or oxygen depleted – environment similar to that of higher-intensity training. This anaerobic environment is hypothesized to promote muscle hypertrophy through a combination of cell signaling and hormonal changes.
BFR is not for every patient and there are relative contraindications to its use. These include conditions that may increase the risk of blood clotting, such as vascular disease, obesity, sickle cell trait or disease, cancer and a history of DVT.
Article 1:
Blood Flow Restriction Training for Athletes: A Systematic Review
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0363546520964454
Article 2:
Local and Systemic Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Therapy in an Animal Model
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33136456/
Article 3:
Blood Flow Restriction Training for the Shoulder: A Case for Proximal Benefit
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34110960/
Author
Dr. Catherine Logan, MD, MBA
Catherine Logan, MD, MBA, MSPT, is a sports medicine orthopaedic surgeon specializing in complex knee and shoulder surgery at Colorado Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics (COSMO) in Denver, Colorado. As a former physical therapist & trainer, Dr. Logan provides a distinct expertise in sports injury, prevention, and surgical management.
