Are you ready to unlock the benefits of blood flow restriction?
Are you currently recovering from an injury, had surgery, or looking to improve your strength? If this is the case, you may be a good candidate for blood flow restriction treatments at Physio In The Six Inc., in Etobicoke.
This may appear counterintuitive; you may wonder, “Why would I want to restrict my blood flow?” Isn’t it healthy for the blood to circulate to my muscles?” While these are valid points, blood flow restriction treatments do several advantages, particularly for athletes and individuals in rehab.
Blood-flow restriction training can help you improve your strength gains while lifting lighter loads, thereby reducing the overall stress on the limb. It is used by certified healthcare professionals throughout Canada and the US on professional sports teams and athletes, high-level athletes, as well as the military. Physio In The Six Inc. is proud to be one of the two physical therapy centers certified with Owens Blood Flow Restriction Therapy in Toronto.
Treatments are typically performed using compression to restrict the affected area(s) circulation while exercising. This promotes gains in strength, increases muscle mass (hypertrophy), and prevents disuse atrophy(loss of muscle mass).
How does blood flow restriction work exactly?
FDA- approved tourniquet systems, similar to blood pressure cuffs, are used during blood flow restriction treatments. The pressure created by these compression devices is high enough to obstruct blood flow to the affected muscles by 50-80%.
Blood flow restriction is based on the widely held belief that the treatments cause a “local hypoxic event,” in which the tissues in the affected area are temporarily deprived of oxygen. This local hypoxia aids in the accumulation of more metabolites, which in turn helps to regulate the process by which the body gains muscle protein during exercise (i.e., the anabolic response system)
Restricting blood flow to the affected area aids in forming more muscle protein, which results in strength gains and muscle growth (aka hypertrophy).
Additional physiological responses to blood flow restriction include:
- Increased anabolic growth factors
- Fast twitch fiber recruitment
- Muscle fiber synthesis
- Heat shock proteins
- Nitric oxide synthase
- Decreased expression of myostatin
Blood flow restriction can be used to achieve improvements in muscle function during rehabilitation or to improve sports performance. At Physio In The Six Inc., our physiotherapists are skilled at identifying the most appropriate methods to achieve the best results possible!
Will limiting my blood flow help me?
At your initial appointment, one of our Etobicoke physiotherapists will perform a physical examination, medical history review, and discussion of your symptoms to determine if blood flow restriction is the best course of treatment for you.
Blood flow restriction has been used to treat upper or lower body injuries as well as being used as a modality to assist with post-surgery rehabilitation. The compression device measures the amount of pressure applied to the affected area for the patient to complete each targeted exercise and achieve the desired results successfully.
The goal of blood flow restriction during exercise is to fatigue the affected area in order to stimulate the body’s natural healing and tissue-building processes. Muscle soreness may occur for a day or two after treatment, and “limb fatigue” may occur for 20-30 minutes but should disappear quickly.
Contact Physio In The Six Inc. right away
If you are recovering from an injury or surgery and want to learn more about blood flow restriction treatments, contact our Etobicoke physiotherapy office immediately.
We are proud certified providers – Personalized Blood Flow Restriction (PBFR). BFR has been demonstrated to be a safe modality to use in the clinical setting while being supervised by a certified healthcare professional. In Canada, certified healthcare professionals must use a Health Canada Medically Licensed Device to safely and effectively perform BFR within a clinical setting. Our physiotherapists have obtained the adequate training and certification achieved through a course administered by Owens Recovery Science (of Jonny Owens).
We would be happy to discuss how it might benefit you. Contact Physio In The Six Inc. today to set up a consultation and begin your journey toward pain relief, increased strength, and overall functional improvement!
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