Blood Flow Restriction Training (BFRT)

Blood Flow Restriction Training (BFRT)

What is BFR?

Blood flow restriction training is an evidence-based form of training that promotes improvements in strength and endurance at a lower intensity level of exercise by limiting the amount of blood flow supplied to the muscle being targeted. BFR training has been proven to increase strength and muscle size, decrease rehabilitation time, improve cardiovascular endurance, and increase the rate of recovery after strenuous exercise or athletic events.

What Should I Expect?

Your Physical Therapist will begin by discussing your past medical history to verify that BFR is safe for you. A cuff will then be fastened around the top of your arm or leg and pumped up until maximal occlusion of blood flow is measured. The therapist will then adjust the pressure in the cuff so that only a certain percentage of blood flow is restricted to the muscles while you exercise. Exercise with BFR is not painful; however, you will experience fatigue at a faster rate.

How Does BFR Work?

By reducing the blood flow to a limb and completely occluding the flow out of the limb, muscles are metabolically stressed, therefore mimicking a more intense exercise than what is actually being performed. As a result, the body recruits more muscle fibers, metabolite concentration increases, and muscle strength and growth are stimulated

Is it Safe?

Extensive research has been conducted regarding safety of BFR. BFR is not advised if you have cancer, unmanaged hypertension, lymphedema, active infection, impaired circulation, history of DVT, and other cardiac conditions.

Is BFR Right for Me?

Blood flow restriction training is safe and effective for a wide range of populations and conditions including but not limited to:

  • Pre/Post-Operation
  • Musculoskeletal Injuries
  • Muscle Strains or Weakness
  • Poor Muscular Endurance
  • Joint Pain
  • Return-to-Sport Treatment
  • Athletes
  • Elderly
Therapists offering Blood Flow Restriction Training (BFRT)
Tom Anderson, PT, DPT, CSCS
Tom Anderson headshot
Tom Anderson, PT, DPT, CSCS
Lauren Carleton, PT, DPT, CHT
Lauren Carleton headshot
Lauren Carleton, PT, DPT, CHT
Wilfred Cheung, PT, DPT, LSVT, OCS
Wilfred Cheung headshot
Wilfred Cheung, PT, DPT, LSVT, OCS
DPT, LSVT BIG, OCS, PT
Jeremy Crow, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS, ART
Jeremy Crow headshot
Jeremy Crow, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS, ART
ART, CSCS, DPT, PT, SCS
Ally D’Annibale, PT, DPT
Ally D'Annibale headshot
Ally D’Annibale, PT, DPT
Amanda Fleres, PT, DPT
Amanda Fleres Headshot
Amanda Fleres, PT, DPT
Morgan Garris, PT, DPT, ATC
Morgan Garris headshot
Morgan Garris, PT, DPT, ATC
Camryn Gessner, PT, DPT, AIB-VR/CON
Camryn Gessner headshot
Camryn Gessner, PT, DPT, AIB-VR/CON
Claire Johannesen, PT, DPT, Mckenzie Part A
Claire Johannesen headshot
Claire Johannesen, PT, DPT, Mckenzie Part A
Amanda Kalan, PT, DPT, OCS
Amanda Kalan headshot
Amanda Kalan, PT, DPT, OCS
Rachel Klazmer, PT, DPT, LSVT BIG
Rachel Klamer headshot
Rachel Klazmer, PT, DPT, LSVT BIG
Kyle Koelsch, PT, DPT, CSCS
Kyle Koelsch headshot
Kyle Koelsch, PT, DPT, CSCS
CSCS, DPT, PT
Jay Kwon, PT, DPT, CSCS
Jay Kwon headshot
Jay Kwon, PT, DPT, CSCS
Kevin Lapham, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Kevin Lapham headshot
Kevin Lapham, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
CSCS, DPT, OCS, PT
Justin Lugtu, PT, DPT, CSCS
Justin Lugtu headshot
Justin Lugtu, PT, DPT, CSCS
Alexis Lyons, PT, DPT, OCS
Alexis Lyons headshot
Alexis Lyons, PT, DPT, OCS
Kieran Morrissey, MS, OTR/L, TPI L1
Kieran Morrissey headshot
Kieran Morrissey, MS, OTR/L, TPI L1
Alyse Myers, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC
Alyse Myers headshot
Alyse Myers, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC
ATC, DPT, OCS, PT
Dom Platzer, PT, DPT
Dom Platzer headshot
Dom Platzer, PT, DPT
Matthew Procopio, PT, DPT
Matthew Procopio headshot
Matthew Procopio, PT, DPT
Benjamin Schwartz, PT, DPT
Benjamin Schwartz headshot
Benjamin Schwartz, PT, DPT
Jeffrey Smith, PT, DPT
Jeffrey Smith headshot
Jeffrey Smith, PT, DPT
Julianne Smith, PT, DPT
Julianne Smith Headshot
Julianne Smith, PT, DPT
Clyde Staley, PT, DPT, CSCS
Clyde Staley headshot
Clyde Staley, PT, DPT, CSCS
Margaret "Maggie" Strode, MS, OTR/L, CHT
Margaret "Maggie" Strode headshot
Margaret "Maggie" Strode, MS, OTR/L, CHT
CHT, LSVT BIG, MS, OTR/L
Jess Von Kessel, PT, DPT, ATC
Jess Von Kessel headshot
Jess Von Kessel, PT, DPT, ATC
Donald Zerio, PT, DPT, TPI Level II
Donald Zerio headshot
Donald Zerio, PT, DPT, TPI Level II
Named the nation's top physical therapy practice (twice).
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