{"id":6648,"date":"2023-08-24T02:59:13","date_gmt":"2023-08-24T06:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rehabmma.hzfgapxw-liquidwebsites.com\/blood-flow-restriction\/"},"modified":"2025-10-07T11:56:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T15:56:07","slug":"blood-flow-restriction","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/netpacestudios.com\/mma\/physical-therapy-treatments\/blood-flow-restriction\/","title":{"rendered":"Blood Flow Restriction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

Are you recovering from an injury? If so, you may be a candidate for blood flow restriction treatments. This may seem counterintuitive – you might ask yourself, \u201cWhy would I want to restrict my blood flow? Isn\u2019t it good for blood to circulate?\u201d While these are valid points, blood flow restriction treatments can actually pose several benefits, especially in athletes. Treatments are usually done during exercise, using compression to restrict circulation in the affected area(s). This is done in order to promote hypertrophy (increase in muscle mass) and prevent disuse atrophy (decrease in muscle mass). If you are interested in learning more about blood flow restriction in Arlington, VA and how it may benefit you, contact MMA & Sports Rehab<\/strong><\/a> today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
Get Started!<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Call (703) 214-7445<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

How exactly does blood flow restriction work at MMA & Sports Rehab?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The compression devices used during BFR treatments are similar to blood pressure cuffs. The pressure created by these compression devices is high enough to occlude blood flow at 50-80% within the affected muscles.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"blood-flow-restriction-MMA-&-Sports-Rehab-Arlington-VA\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

BFR is based on a popular theory that the treatments lead to a \u201clocal hypoxic event,\u201d meaning the tissues in the affected area will be temporarily deprived of oxygen. While this may sound intimidating, the local hypoxia actually helps in accumulating more metabolites, in order to regulate the body\u2019s anabolic response system (also known as the way in which the body gains muscle protein) during exercise. Essentially, restricting the blood flow in the affected area helps to build more muscle protein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additional physiological responses to this include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
  • Increased anabolic growth factors<\/li>\n
  • Fast-twitch fiber recruitment<\/li>\n
  • Muscle fiber synthesis<\/li>\n
  • Heat shock proteins<\/li>\n
  • Nitric oxide synthase<\/li>\n
  • Decreased expression of myostatin<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n