Are you ready to unlock the benefits of blood flow restriction?
Are you currently recovering from an injury or looking to improve your strength? If this is the case, you may be a good candidate for blood flow restriction treatments at PhysioChiroWellness, in Newmarket, Vaughan, ON.
This may appear counterintuitive; you may wonder, “Why would I want to restrict my blood flow?” Isn’t it healthy for the blood to circulate?” While these are valid points, blood flow restriction treatments can have several advantages, particularly for athletes and individuals in rehab.
Blood-flow restriction training can help you improve your strength gains while lifting lighter loads, thereby reducing the overall stress on the limb.
Treatments are typically performed using compression to restrict the affected area(s) circulation while exercising. This promotes gains in strength, increases muscle mass (hypertrophy), and prevents disuse atrophy(loss of muscle mass).
How does blood flow restriction work exactly?
Compression devices, similar to blood pressure cuffs, are used during blood flow restriction treatments. The pressure created by these compression devices is high enough to obstruct blood flow within the affected muscles by 50-80%.
Blood flow restriction is based on the widely held belief that the treatments cause a “local hypoxic event,” in which the tissues in the affected area are temporarily deprived of oxygen. This local hypoxia aids in the accumulation of more metabolites, which in turn helps to regulate the process by which the body gains muscle protein during exercise (i.e., the anabolic response system)
Restricting blood flow to the affected area aids in forming more muscle protein, which results in strength gains and muscle growth (aka hypertrophy).
Additional physiological responses to blood flow restriction include:
- Increased anabolic growth factors
- Fast twitch fiber recruitment
- Muscle fiber synthesis
- Heat shock proteins
- Nitric oxide synthase
- Decreased expression of myostatin
Blood flow restriction can be used to achieve improvements in muscle function during rehabilitation or to improve sports performance. At PhysioChiroWellness, our physiotherapists are skilled at identifying the most appropriate methods to achieve the best results possible!
Will limiting my blood flow help me?
At your initial appointment, one of our Newmarket, Vaughan, ON physiotherapists will perform a physical examination, medical history review, and discussion of your symptoms to determine if blood flow restriction is the best course of treatment for you.
Blood flow restriction has been used to treat almost any upper or lower body injury and can also be used as a form of post-surgery rehabilitation. The compression device measures the amount of pressure applied to the affected area for the patient to complete each targeted exercise and achieve the desired results successfully.
The goal of blood flow restriction during the exercises is to tire out the affected area to stimulate the body’s natural healing and tissue-building processes. Muscle soreness may occur for a day or two after treatment, and “limb fatigue” may occur for 20-30 minutes but should disappear quickly.
Contact PhysioChiroWellness right away
If you are recovering from an injury or surgery and want to learn more about blood flow restriction treatments, contact our Newmarket, Vaughan, ON physiotherapy office immediately.
Our licensed physiotherapists are highly trained in this treatment and would be happy to discuss how it might benefit you. Contact PhysioChiroWellness today to set up a consultation and begin your journey toward pain relief, increased strength, and overall functional improvement!
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