Blood Flow Restriction Physical Therapy

Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) is an approach that can be used during outpatient physical therapy to promote muscle strengthening safely and effectively.

A properly trained Physical Therapist can use BFR during physical therapy to help patients significantly increase muscle strength while working out with very low weights.

Blood flow restriction therapy (BFRT) is an innovative training method for the development of muscle strength and hypertrophy in the athletic and clinical settings. Through the combination of venous occlusion and low-load resistance training, it induces muscle development through a number of proposed mechanisms including anaerobic metabolism, cellular swelling, and induction of type 2 muscle fibers. Muscle weakness and atrophy are prevalent among musculoskeletal rehabilitation patients, causing delayed return to functional activity. In traditional resistance training, muscle development requires exercise loads of 70% of one-repetition maximum (1RM), but the stress placed on connective tissues and joints can be detrimental to the elderly and rehabilitation patients. However, BFRT with loads of 20% to 40% of 1RM has been shown consistently in the literature to increase muscle strength, hypertrophy, and angiogenesis. The rate of adverse effects has not been found to be greater than that in traditional high-load resistance training, but its effects on the cardiovascular system have yet to be evaluated in long-term studies. Although further investigations are needed to determine the exact mechanism and optimal usage, current evidence is promising for the application of BFRT in athletes, rehabilitation patients, and the elderly patients.

Therapeutic Ultrasound

Therapeutic ultrasound is used in therapy to provide a local deep heat.

It utilizes sound waves to penetrate below the surface of the skin to create a vibration of soft tissue (muscle, ligaments, tendons, bursaes) to increase their thermal temperature. As a result therapeutic ultrasound promotes circulation and blood flow to these tissues to aid and accelerate healing properties of an injured area. It also aids in helping to reduce muscle tension and spasm and can also be aid in breakdown of scar tissue.

Ultrasound combined with IASTM is an incredible option to promote and accelerate healing of soft tissue disorders and injuries.

Electrical Stimulation

Electrical stimulation, also known as e-stim, is a therapy that is used for multiple therapeutic effects including promotion of tissue healing, decreasing pain, improving muscle strength and contractility, and decreasing swelling.

It is best used in acute (symptoms present < 6 weeks) conditions including muscle strains, ligament sprains, tendonitis, and neuropathy. It also has been shown to be effective in some chronic conditions, including fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome.