Blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy

Blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy can be used as a strengthening technique during a patient’s physical therapy program. A specialized tourniquet is inflated to a personalized and specific pressure to reduce blood flow to an arm or leg while exercising. Using this technique, exercises can be done with significantly lighter weight while still creating muscle growth and strength response.

Cash-based flat rates

$150 – Initial visit
$50 to 150 – Follow-up visit(s), based on length of appointment

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Benefits of BFR therapy include:

• Minimizes muscle loss after injury
• Promotes muscle growth
• Enhance therapy outcomes

BFR therapy can benefit those recovering from:

• Achilles repairs
• Fractures
• Inflammatory muscle wasting diseases, such as polymyositis and dermatomyositis
• Knee reconstructions and cartilage repairs
• Muscle strains
• Nerve injuries
• Severe musculoskeletal trauma
• Symptomatic knee osteoarthritis
• Tendinopathies
• Total joint replacement

BFR therapy may also benefit those who have continued weakness after surgery, despite conservative care.

How BFR therapy works

The goal of BFR therapy is to reduce just enough blood flow to an extremity to create positive changes. The amount of pressure used varies between individuals based on size of limbs, density of the soft tissue, blood pressure and placement and width of the tourniquet cuff.

Once the personalized pressure is determined, specific exercises will be performed based on the therapy plan. By lifting a light weight with the tourniquet on, the muscle will begin to feel like it is working very hard. This feeling in the muscle is an increase of lactate and is the desired response of this training. Sweating and increased heart rate similar to a heavy workout is common and expected.

There are many additional positive effects from BFR therapy such as an increased ability for the muscles to grow. To maximize these effects, discuss proper nutrition guidelines including protein consumption with your health care provider.

After the exercise sessions are complete and sufficient lactate has been built-up, many positive effects can occur. These include an increase in growth hormone and other positive muscle growth factors, as well as an increase in muscle protein synthesis which helps the muscles ability to grow. Discuss proper nutrition guidelines with your health care provider to maximize these effects.

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