What is the New Wave of Muscular Rehabilitation?
qBlood Flow Restriction (BFR), also known as occlusion training, is becoming very popular in the rehabilitation and strength training world. Famous athletes like Dwight Howard (Center for the LA Lakers) and Le’veon Bell (Running Back for the NY Jets) have raved about the use of BFR and the amazing success and progress they had returning to play so fast.
So What is the Purpose of BFR and What Does BFR do in the Body?
qThe purpose of BFR is to cut off the blood flow that is returning to the heart, also known as venous return. This allows for an increase in arterial blood flow in the muscle being worked, which means that oxygen is staying longer in the muscle, helping the muscle to perform better. BFR creates a metabolic “rush” in the joint being rehabilitated creating a similar affect to exercising at a high volume with a heavy load.
qBecause BFR creates a similar process metabolically to exercising at a high volume with a high load, BFR allows a patient to only exert at 20% of their one rep max. The B Strong System helps describe the steps that happen in the body to create that metabolic rush, the body senses muscular fatigue due to the restriction of venous return blood flow. The nervous system becomes aware that the muscle is “burning” and cannot perform, this makes the brain send out growth hormone to the muscle, allowing the muscle to meet the standards to perform.
The Future of BFR?
qMore research needs to be done to find all the benefits that come along with BFR. Potentially, researches may look into using BFR as a training method before an injury even happens? Or research how fast can BFR bring back an athlete to play compared to common rehabilitation programs? All in all, the future is wide open for BFR.
More Research
qIf you would like to learn more about BFR, go ahead and visit Owen’s Recovery Science webpage by clicking on the link provided. https://www.owensrecoveryscience.com
qIf you would like to get a more scientific in depth approach on what BFR does go ahead and click on the references provided.
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