Blood Flow Restriction Therapy helps patients increase strength in injured muscles
Blood flow restriction therapy has been used by professional sports teams and the military for some time to help athletes and soldiers heal from injuries more quickly. When using this treatment, a physical therapist uses a surgical grade tourniquet to apply a precise amount of pressure to the patient’s arm or leg while exercising the muscle. The goal is to maintain blood flow into the muscle while preventing outflow, thus maximizing strength gains while minimizing stress on muscles and joints.
Blood flow restriction therapy is most often used to help patients recover from sports injuries, joint pain or surgery. However, it has other uses, too. It can be used for general strengthening, especially in certain populations such as the elderly. This can deliver considerable gains versus exercise alone.
Blood flow restriction therapy can also help prevent atrophy, and it helps maintain heart health when patients cannot exercise, such as when in a walking boot and prohibited from doing weight-bearing exercise.
Patients who undergo joint replacement or knee, foot, ankle or shoulder surgery often experience faster recovery with blood flow restriction therapy. Pritchette Physical Therapy also uses blood flow restriction therapy to help treat knee pain, tendinopathies, fractures and osteoporosis.
Interested in learning more about blood flow restriction therapy? Contact our office at 480-785-5415.