[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/01\/blood-flow-restriction-rehab\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/01\/blood-flow-restriction-rehab\/","headline":"What Is Blood Flow Restriction Rehabilitation?","name":"What Is Blood Flow Restriction Rehabilitation?","description":"Blood flow restriction rehabilitation, or BFR, is a new and different way to rehabilitate muscle injuries, particularly those occurring in the arm or leg. Learn more. \r\n\r\n","datePublished":"2018-01-03","dateModified":"2022-11-11","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/rehab","name":"UPMC Rehabilitation Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/rehab","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-rehabilitation-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Bloodflow-restriction-therapy.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Bloodflow-restriction-therapy.jpg","height":327,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/01\/blood-flow-restriction-rehab\/","about":["Rehabilitation"],"wordCount":452,"keywords":["blood flow restriction therapy","rehab"],"articleBody":"Blood flow restriction rehabilitation, or BFR, is an approach to rehabilitating muscle injuries, particularly those occurring in an arm or leg.The specialized treatment method uses an FDA-approved surgical tourniquet system that looks very similar to a blood pressure cuff. The system is placed on an injured arm or leg. It periodically reduces blood flow to the limb while the patient performs specific exercises.Limiting blood flow to the muscles (a process called occlusion) allows the patient to work the muscles without placing excessive weight on the limb. The use of BFR can vary throughout treatment.\u201cWe are constantly studying state-of-the-art clinical practices and the latest research to benefit our patients,\u201d says Jim Burns, PT, facility director at the UPMC outpatient rehabilitation location in Uniontown. \u201cBFR is one of the newer tools that we\u2019ve been able to add to our toolbox, and we have seen extreme benefits from this form of rehabilitation.\u201dWho Benefits from Blood Flow Restriction Rehabilitation?Patients with most types of muscular injuries can receive BFR. That includes patients recovering from:Fractures that don\u2019t grow back together or heal properly.Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.Rotator cuff injuries.Achilles tendon injuries.\u201cBlood flow restriction therapy can benefit virtually every patient that we see,\u201d Burns says. \u201cOur patients with ACL reconstruction, nonunion fractures, tendon apathy, and tendon repair have all benefited from this form of rehabilitation.\u201dOlder patients have also experienced significant benefits from BFR, Burns says.\u201cSome folks may have difficulty navigating stairs, getting into or out of a chair, or completing other basic activities during everyday life,” he says. “By providing this type of technology to our patients, we can help them improve and meet their goal.\u201dHow Does Blood Flow Restriction Rehabilitation Work?BFR forces the body to activate all muscles on the limb where the blood flow is restricted. It can be incorporated into traditional physical therapy sessions, just as other techniques or equipment might be.\u201cWe\u2019ll first have the patient work the injured muscle through traditional, weight-bearing physical therapy exercises, and then end with BFR,\u201d Burns says. \u201cThis ensures the injured muscles have been worked to their fullest and, ultimately, can aid in faster recovery times.\u201dAccording to Burns, the science behind BFR is low-load training with heavy load benefits.\u201cSo, strength gains are really based in heavy loads,” he says. “The safety of blood flow restriction allows very low loads to be applied to limbs and to the joints, yet patients are gaining the benefits of higher load lifting.\u201dFor more information about blood flow restriction rehabilitation, call\u00a01-888-723-4277\u00a0or visit our website. Editor's Note: This video was originally published on January 3, 2018, and was last reviewed on October 3, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2018","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"01","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/\/01\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What Is Blood Flow Restriction Rehabilitation?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/01\/blood-flow-restriction-rehab\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]