Blood flow restriction may improve important performance metrics in healthy athletes, according to Tulane University orthopedic surgeons.
Can Restricting Blood Flow Improve Athletic Training?
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Blood flow restriction is a technique that uses a tourniquet system around the end of an extremity to restrict venous return while still maintaining arterial flow.
In the study, “Blood Flow Restriction Training for Athletes: A Systematic Review,” published online in The American Journal of Sports Medicine, orthopedic surgeon Mary K. Mulcahey, M.D., and colleagues conducted a systematic review on the use of blood flow restriction as a supplement to traditional resistance training.
Overall, 10 studies were included in the analysis. Seven of nine (78%) of the studies reported a significant increase in strength associated with the use of blood flow restriction training; four of eight (50%) observed a significant increase in muscle size in this group as well.
Improvements in sport-specific measurements were also found in a few of the studies. Occlusive cuff pressure varied between 110 and 240 mm HG in the studies.
Dr. Mulcahey and team wrote, “The literature appears to support that blood flow restriction can lead to improvements in strength, muscle size, and markers of sports performance in healthy athletes.”
They added, “Combining traditional resistance training with blood flow restriction may allow athletes to maximize athletic performance and remain in good health. Additional studies should be conducted to find an optional occlusive pressure to maximize training improvements”
Blood flow restriction can also benefit athletes when they are injured, according to the Institute for Athletic Medicine.
The institute writes, “In order to gain strength and muscle size (known as hypertrophy), a person must lift heavy weights and train at a high intensity. People who are injured, cannot lift heavy weights, or train at high intensity can benefit from blood flow restriction training by exercising with significantly less weight at a lower intensity while still creating strength and hypertrophy gains.”
People with heart, circulation, clotting, cancer, and those who are pregnant should not use blood flow restriction training.
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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