Blood Flow Restriction Training (Occlusion Training) - Is It For You?

You've been injured, maybe had surgery, and you're eager to get back to your normal life. If this describes you, blood flow restriction training (also known as “occlusion training”) could be beneficial for you.

Under usual circumstances, the strength and muscle mass you build is directly related to how heavy you push, pull or lift. This is not possible if you are injured, just had surgery, or you have severe weakness. This is termed “load compromised”.

Blood flow restriction training is a strategy used in rehabilitation to develop strength and hypertrophy (increase muscle mass) at low load exercise intensities. You perform low intensity exercise whilst a pressure cuff is applied to the limb above the level of the target muscle groups. This reduces blood flow to the muscles below the level of the occlusion, and provides similar exercise conditions as higher intensity exercise, and stimulates growth and hypertrophy of the target muscle groups.

Benefits of Blood Flow Restriction Training for Rehabilitation:

Get started earlier: Because you are able to load the limb with lighter weights, this is safe for healing tissue, and rehabilitation can commence earlier! This often saves a significant amount of time in the overall rehabilitation process.
Faster Recovery: Start earlier, finish earlier - and get back to your favorite activities and sports sooner!
Pain Relief: More muscle > more strength > less pain!
Stronger Muscles: Build power and improve your overall function earlier
Reduced Muscle Loss: Prevent those dreaded "use it or lose it" effects

Blood Flow Restriction Training can be a game-changer for:

Injury Recovery: Sprains, strains, fractures – you name it!
Post-Surgery: Recovering from knee and ankle surgeries
Preventing Muscle Wasting: Conditions that cause muscle loss.

Safety First!

Monitored sessions, personalised exercise intensities, appropriate use of the cuff(s), and appropriate pressure for occlusion are all safety considerations we use to minimise risk. And although this strategy is excellent and has benefits for a wide range of rehabilitation conditions, unfortunately not all people are appropriate to train using this strategy. You must complete a risk assessment to confirm if you are suitable for this type of training before commencement. A GP visit may also be required before commencing depending on the situation.

If you are interested please contact us on (02) 8958 5104 to discuss the suitability of this type of training for you.