Blood Flow Restriction

Service Description

Blood Flow Restriction Training (BFRT) is possibly the most interesting and effective modality to emerge in the physical therapy practice in recent history. Most clinicians at this point are at least familiar with some of the promises of BFRT, namely increased muscle hypertrophy, decreased atrophy, and increased muscular strength. Of course there are other benefits such as increased VO2 Max, and systemic upregulation of hormones that aid in muscular growth. Additionally, because BFRT involves exercise that is perceived by the patient to be very strenuous, it serves an additional role in framing the necessity of hard work early on and through the return to play/function phase. The use of BFRT also tends to have analgesic effects, which can be of vital use in our post op and load intolerant populations. This course will provide an evidence-heavy rationale for the effectiveness of BFRT in appropriate populations, while also providing the critical clinical reasoning for its use which goes beyond what can be easily quantified in the available literature.