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Blood Flow Restriction Training

Blood flow restriction training involves performing low-intensity resistance exercises with an inflated cuff restricting blood flow, which can provide muscle growth benefits similar to high-intensity training. It activates myogenic stem cells and increases anabolic hormone levels to drive muscle hypertrophy through metabolic stress and muscle tension even at low intensities. The cuff restricts arterial inflow and venous outflow during exercise to trap metabolites and hormones in the working muscle.

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mingchuan chu
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33 views

Blood Flow Restriction Training

Blood flow restriction training involves performing low-intensity resistance exercises with an inflated cuff restricting blood flow, which can provide muscle growth benefits similar to high-intensity training. It activates myogenic stem cells and increases anabolic hormone levels to drive muscle hypertrophy through metabolic stress and muscle tension even at low intensities. The cuff restricts arterial inflow and venous outflow during exercise to trap metabolites and hormones in the working muscle.

Uploaded by

mingchuan chu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Blood Flow Restriction Training

- Low intensity exercise with blood flow occlusion = high intensity training (Improve muscle
strength anf muscle hypertrophy)
- Developed in Japan in 1960s (KAATSU Training)
- Perform resistance exercises at a low intensity of 20-30% of 1 repetitions max (1RM), with high
repetitions per set (15-30) and short rest intervals between sets (30 seconds)

Muscle Hypertrophy

- Increase in diameter of muscle, increase protein content within fibres


- Muscle tension and metabolic stress
- Concentration of anabolic hormone levels increase (hypoxia, and cell swelling)
- Activation of myogenic stem cells and the elevated anabolic hormones result in protein
metabolism

Activation of myogenic stem cells (Myogenesis)

- Myogenic stem cells (Satellite cells) – FOUND between basal lamina and plasma membrane of
myofibres
- Normally inactive and become activated In response to muscle injury / increase muscle tension
- Repairs of damaged muscle fibers and growth of the fibre

Release of hormone

- Any exercise, resistance / aerobic increase human growth


hormone (HGH)
- Insulin like growth factor and growth hormone are responsible
for increased collagen synthesis after exercise and aids muscle
recovery
- Accumulation of lactate and hydrogen ions (Hypoxic training)
further increase the release of growth hormone
- High intensity training down regulate myostatin and provide an
environment for muscle hypertrophy
- Myostatin controls and inhibits cell growth in muscle tissue

Hypoxia

- Reduction in oxygen delivery to the muscle


- Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1A) is activated
- Increase anaerobic lactic metabolism and the production of lactate
Cell swelling

- Blood pooling and accumulation of metabolites cell swelling


- Cause mechanical tension which activate the myogenic stem cells

Effects of blood flow restriction on muscle strength

- Cuff is placed proximally to the muscle


- Low intensity exercises
- Increase water content of the muscle cells (Cell swelling), SPEED UP THE RECRUITMENT OF FAST-
TWITCH MUSCLE FIBERS

BFR Cuff

- Tourniquet (Surgical tubing / elastic straps)


- 10-12cm cuff
- Material – elastic / nylon
- Standard pressure 180mmHg, SBP 1.2-1.5 fold, relative to the patient’s thigh circumference
- Doppler ultrasound/ plethysmography (determine the blood flow to the limb), the cuff inflated
to a specific pressure where arterial blood flow is completely occluded – Limb occlusion pressure
(LOP) / Arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) – 40-80%

➢ Upper Limb: The tourniquet is placed on the upper arm. The cuff is inflated to restrict 50% of
the arterial blood flow and 100% of the venous flow.
➢ Lower limb: The tourniquet is placed on the upper thigh. The cuff is inflated to restrict 80% of
the arterial blood flow and 100% of the venous flow. With the cuff inflated to the correct
pressure normal exercises are performed at about 20-30% of 1RM.
Exercise prescription

BFR-RE (RESISTANCE TRAINING)

- 20-40% 1RM produce consistent muscle adaptations for BFR-RE


- 75 reps across 4 sets (30,15,15,15)
- Rest periods between sets are normally about 30-60s
- Keep the cuff inflated during the rest periods to capture the metabolites

BFR-AE (Aerobic exercise)


P-BFR (Passively without exercise)

Side-effect

- Fainting and dizziness


- Numbness
- Pain and discomfort
- Delayed onset muscle soreness

Contraindication

- Risk of adverse reactions (Poor circulatory system, obesity, diabetes, arterial calcification, sickle
cell trait, severe hypertension or renal compromise)
- Venous thromboembolism
- Peripheral vascular compromise
- Sickle cell anemia
- Extremity infection
- Lymphadenectomy
- CA / TUMOR
- Extremity with dialysis access
- Acidosis
- Open fracture
- Increase intracranial pressure vascular graft
- Medication known to increase clotting risk
Muscle damage

High load resistance exercise can cause excessive breakdown of striated muscle (Exertional
rhabdomyolysis) and organ damage

Use of Tourniquets

- Nerve injury (Mechanical compression and neural ischemia) – mild transient loss of function to
irreversible damage and paralysis
- Skin injury
- Tourniquet pain
- Chemical burns
- CR, Cerebral circulatory and hemotological effects caused by prolonged ischemia
- Temperature changes

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