Blood Flow Restriction Training (BFR)
"Used by many Leading Sports Teams - New Zealand All Blacks, Manchester City, British Athletics. Train Smarter, Increase Gains, Lighter Load"
What is BFR?
Applying a blood flow cuff to the legs or arms limits the amount of blood flow returning to the heart. This is known as blood flow restriction training. International studies have demonstrated that this technique is safe and stimulates a number of beneficial changes in the body which can result in:
- Increased muscle size and strength
- Improved endurance
- Pain reduction
The Science?
BFR allows arterial blood flow to a muscle, whilst restricting venous return. This leads to:
- Increased growth hormone and IGF-1 levels.
- Increased type-2fibre recruitment ( increased potential for strength, speed and hypertrophy.
- Greater accumulation of metabolites such as lactate
- Enhanced protein synthesis production by 45-55% = increased muscle production.
Why do we use BFR?
Blood flow training has shown to result in over 30-50% more muscle protein synthesis than a traditional exercise-training.
At Offaly Physio & Performance Lab we know athletes / patients post op or in the acute phase of injury might not be able to lift heavy
weights and suffer muscle atrophy (wasting of the muscle).
So we use BFR as a way of lifting light loads to develop the muscular strength until they can be progressed to lifting heavier loads as
able.