Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

The Evolution Of Blood Flow Restricted Exercise, Eduardo D. S. Freitas, Murat Karabulut, Michael G. Bemben

Health & Human Performance Faculty Publications and Presentations

The use of blood flow restricted (BFR) exercise has become an accepted alternative approach to improve skeletal muscle mass and function and improve cardiovascular function in individuals that are not able to or do not wish to use traditional exercise protocols that rely on heavy loads and high training volumes. BFR exercise involves the reduction of blood flow to working skeletal muscle by applying a flexible cuff to the most proximal portions of a person's arms or legs that results in decreased arterial flow to the exercising muscle and occluded venous return back to the central circulation. Safety concerns, especially …