Blood Flow Restriction

Build Strength and Develop Muscle with the Same Cutting Edge Medicine that the Pros Use

Avant PT is proud to incorporate Personalized Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) into our practice with the only FDA-approved BFR device on the market, the Delfi Unit. BFR allows for muscle growth, which also supplements bone density, using low load exercise with application of a surgical grade tourniquet. This non-invasive technique accelerates muscle activation, endurance, and growth while working well below your maximal muscle capacity. This allows you to progress your strength without overloading your injured tissues.

  • Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
  • Tendon Injuries
  • Ligament sprains
  • Chronic muscle inhibition and atrophy
  • Cartilage Injuries
  • Muscle strains
  • Rehabilitation after fractures
  • Strengthen weak hips without aggravating low back pain
  • Strengthen shoulders and arm musculature without aggravating neck pain

The Science of BFR

With the placement of the tourniquet, BFR reduces the blood flow to and from your arm or leg. This tricks your brain into thinking you are working out very hard. In reality, with BFR on we will have you working out at about 30% of your capacity. Sneaky!! As a response, your body releases Growth Hormone and lactic acid, both supportive of muscle hypertrophy.

An example of BFR in use

You come to PT with a diagnosis of a hamstring strain. You haven’t been able to do your favorite bridging exercises due to pain and every stretch on your hamstring makes you wince. After determining this is an appropriate intervention for you including clearing you for any contraindications to this care (see below), we will place the surgical grade tourniquet on your affected leg and inflate it. This feels a lot like getting your blood pressure taken. Because we are using the Delfi unit, this pressure is then precisely tracked throughout this intervention. Your PT will give you a series of exercises to do with the tourniquet on, which will allow us to add a gradual load to your hamstring without overstressing this injured tissue. Most people who use BFR feel a burning sensation that would be similar to what you would feel weightlifting once you hit fatigue. The outcome of all of this is rapid muscle growth and enhanced speed of recovery. 

Some other options for BFR use: 

  • Hamstring/Quad Strains
  • Runner’s Knee (Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome)
  • Knee Arthroscopy (including ACL reconstruction, meniscal procedures, etc)
  • Arthritis of the Knee
  • Ankle Sprains/Ankle Instability
  • Achilles Tendinitis/Tendonosis
  • Tennis/Golfer’s Elbow
  • Wrist Instability
  • Wrist Fracture
  • Rotator cuff rehabilitation
  • Shoulder impingement syndrome secondary to selective weakness

 

Performance: 

If you follow any of your favorite athletes on social media, you will have likely seen them working out with BFR. Why? This low load training allows for strengthening without the demands for recovery time that may be created by high load weight training. While the reality is that our body needs both options for optimizing performance, BFR is an excellent choice to supplement training. 

Contraindications to BFR: 

  • Blood clots
  • Impaired circulation or peripheral vascular compromise
  • Previous revascularization of the extremity
  • Extremities with dialysis access
  • Acidosis
  • Extremity infection
  • Cancer
  • Medications and supplements known to increase clotting risk
  • Open fracture
  • Increased intracranial pressure
  • Open soft tissue injuries
  • Severe crushing injuries
  • Severe hypertension
  • Elbow surgery (where there is concomitant excess swelling)
  • Vascular grafting
  • Lymphectomies

 

If you are experiencing any of the following, come see us at Avant PT to see how BFR can help you reach your goals!

To learn more about how Avant Physical can help you meet your goals, schedule an appointment now! Contact us at 206-686-4073 or request an appointment online today.

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We make every effort to include your healthcare professionals and exercise specialists in a cohesive plan to promote your optimal outcome. We want to truly understand what drives you toward recovery.
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After injuring myself during a gym session and getting little relief with massage therapy, I sought help with Avant on my shoulders and low back/hip issues. Kate was my PT and provided a full plan of how to get back on track and what exercises I could do at home and during my gym sessions. Each session targeted the areas Kate and I felt needed more attention during that week. After eight weeks I had better mobility and no pain, plus the gained knowledge of how I can stretch and exercise all of my problem areas that I still use to this day. I highly recommend Avant!
Taylor Bennett
Avant PT is an amazing place! I came here after receiving major foot surgery and the time I spent with Avant was instrumental in my recovery. After many months of regular sessions at Avant, primarily with Laura and Corissa, I was able to fully recover and return to my job as a ballet dancer. Exercises were well selected and explained, and I always felt at ease asking questions. It's hard to overstate how incredibly helpful everything l learned was and continues to be for my physical well-being. I will continue to come to Avant for any future PT needs and I highly recommend them to everyone else. I am incredibly thankful for everything you guys do.
Joe Silva
Fantastic experience with Avant Physical Therapy over the last 6 months recovering from lower back and knee injuries and then working on strength and flexibility to prevent future occurrences. Giovanna (Gio) was a fantastic therapist. I asked a lot of questions about why we did different exercises and she always took time to explain how different muscle groups interact in the body and how it connected to the goals we set. In addition, she is simply a lovely human to be around . Beyond Gio, Ronni and the rest of the front desk staff had great communication, were efficient with scheduling and super friendly.
Shaun Boyle
Ryan is the best physical therapist I have had the pleasure of working with. The care he provides is top-notch. He is professional in every manner of his work. The hard work he puts in to figuring out the best plan to getting someone back to full heath is top level. Best therapist around!
Matt Polster
Matt Polster
Professional soccer player for Chicago Fire SC
After playing eighteen years of competition soccer, seven years of professional soccer & five major surgeries, I was blessed with the best medical personnel I’ve ever had. I would trust Avant with any piece of my training/therapy, shoot MY LIFE!
Lauryn Hutchinson
Lauryn Hutchinson
Trinidad & Tobago Womens National Football Team
Hands down, the best PT I've ever been to. Laura is a wonderful, upbeat person and and amazing therapist, and unlike many PT's she spends the entire hour with you. She's also very good with difficult cases. I've had an ongoing back issue for several years and have tried everything. I'd pretty much given up on ever really getting better. In one month Laura helped me more than anyone else had been able to.
Tanya J.
As an 11 year NFL veteran running back, I have worked with many therapist and trainers. I appreciate Avant's ability to assess movement deficiencies, identify where the restrictions in my body are and come up with a detailed plan during treatment as well as for me to do on my own.
Tim Hightower
Tim Hightower
NFL Running Back
Can't recommend Brenna highly enough at Avant. Her guidance enabled me to return quickly from a significant muscle tear and get back to the outdoor activities I love. I now feel equipped to strengthen on my own, and help prevent injuries from skiing and climbing, which is extremely comforting. Appointments were filled with helpful guidance on exercises, scheduling was painless, she thoroughly and clearly answered any questions I had, and corresponding over email between appointments provided me with all the information I needed to heal and get stronger.
Stoops
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