Blood flow restriction, also known as BFR or occlusion training, is a type of physical therapy that uses a monitored surgical cuff to temporarily restrict blood flow to a muscle, or a group of muscles, while exercising. This cuff is similar to the cuff you wear during blood pressure checks.
The amount of pressure used to restrict blood flow will vary among patients. While pressure is applied, you’ll perform directed exercises to tire the muscles in the targeted area. This helps to stimulate the body’s natural healing capabilities.
Restricting blood flow reduces the oxygen level in certain muscles. Reducing oxygen makes the body think it’s working harder than it is. This enables you to lift lighter weights and get the same benefit as though you were lifting something much heavier, which then increases the hormone production necessary to build muscles and help you get stronger. BFR is a great training option for people who have weight-bearing restrictions on certain muscles during recovery from an injury or after a surgery.
Combining low-intensity exercises with blood flow restriction creates a similar feeling to when you’re performing moderate to high-intensity resistance training.