Strength and Hypertrophy
To optimize muscular strength and hypertrophy, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends moderate to high intensities of resistance exercise, targeting major muscle groups 2-3 days per week using 8-10 upper and lower body exercises. The recommended training intensity should be more than 65% of the subject’s one-repetition maximum. However, individuals recovering from injury or the elderly may not tolerate these loads, hindering their strength and hypertrophy response.
BFR Rehabilitation
Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) is a paradigm-shifting intervention for rehabilitation professionals, with over 160 peer-reviewed articles in scientific literature. By applying a surgical-grade tourniquet intermittently to an exercising limb, personalized BFR rehabilitation (PBFR) can induce significant strength, hypertrophy, and endurance changes using a very light load.
Why Use BFR?
Personalized Blood Flow Restriction Rehabilitation has consistently demonstrated strength and hypertrophy gains compared to controls and comparable gains to heavy load lifting. Research suggests that low load resistance exercise (20-30% 1 RM) and low load aerobic exercise combined with BFR produce an exaggerated response for maximizing muscle strength and hypertrophy. PBFR is also effective for early muscular training after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament.
How Does BFR Work and Who is Appropriate to Treat with It?
The exact mechanism behind the positive results seen with BFR is still being extensively researched, but muscle protein synthesis plays a significant role. Clinically, PBFR has been applied to many diagnoses with positive results, including total joint arthroplasties, Achilles tendon repairs, fractures, rotator cuff repairs, muscle strains, nerve injuries, post-operative cartilage arthroscopies and reconstructions, and tendinopathies.