Blood Flow Restriction (BFR)

The Delfi Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) System used at Colorado Institute of Sports Medicine (CISM) Physical Therapy Clinic in Colorado Springs, CO. CISM is a premier physical therapy clinic in Colorado Springs, CO that provides services for post-ope…
 

What is Blood Flow Restriction (BFR)?

Blood flow restriction is the application of a tourniquet system (Delfi BFR System) to the arm or leg reducing venous return of blood during exercise. The pressure of the device is adjusted specifically to your blood pressure using a hospital grade tourniquet system. Pressure cuffs are only ever placed over larger muscle groups as to not harm any blood vessels or nerves.


What are the Mechanisms Behind Blood FLow Restriction?

The benefits likely occur due to changes in muscle metabolism, primarily shifting to anaerobic processes (not requiring oxygen) from aerobic ones (requiring oxygen). Lactate build up occurs leading to increased muscle activation, fast twitch muscle fiber recruitment and production of growth hormone that promotes healing and recover of the muscle, tendon and bone. Furthermore, blood flow restriction causes increases in hormones responsible for muscle growth, hypertrophy and protein synthesis that normally occur with heavy weight lifting. In fact, BFR uses very low loads that can be as low as 20% of maximal effort.



Is BLood Flow Restriction Training Safe?

Simply put, yes, it is completely safe when using a 3rd generation FDA approved Delfi tourniquet system! There are many aftermarket and online blood flow restriction devices available but these are dangerous and do no go through safety testing or follow proposed guidelines. You should only use a BFR device under the supervision of a health care practitioner to assure your safety throughout the training.



Who can Benefit From Blood Flow Restriction?

At the Colorado Institute of Sports Medicine, blood flow restriction is used on patients on all ages and conditions that include but are not limited to; tendinopathies, fractures, muscle strains, ligament sprains, musculoskeletal traumas, osteoarthritis, joint replacements and other pre/post-surgical procedures. One important factor and reason why we love to use BFR here at CISM is that we can use low loads and basic exercises when patients cannot tolerate traditional methods or are limited due to post-surgical/injury precautions.



Exercising While Using Blood Flow Restriction

A standardized treatment protocol will be utilized with all exercises:

 

  • An individual tourniquet pressure will be determined and set by the system

  • Limb occlusion will then be set at 30-80% for the leg and 30-50% for the arm depending on tolerance

  • Patients will complete an exercise consisting of 4 sets of 30/15/15/15 repetitions

  • Following each set, a 30 second rest is provided

  • Typically, 1-4 exercises are completed per session with a full minute rest with the tourniquet deflated between each exercise



If you would like to read a more comprehensive article on Blood Flow Restriction, see this article on our blog written by our own Dr. Dan Barraclough