Blood flow restriction training – sometimes called BFR or occlusion training – can be a highly effective treatment option for physical therapy patients. But what is it? And why do it?
What is Blood Flow Restriction Training?
Blood flow restriction training is nearly exactly what it sounds like: it’s training done while restricting blood flow. How this is actually achieved is through pressure applied externally to your limb – usually by use of a cuff or compression device. The device applies just enough pressure to safely reduce blood flow leaving the muscle, while still allowing the same amount of blood to flow into the muscle.
How is Blood Flow Restriction Training Used in Physical Therapy?
So, why would you want to restrict blood flow? Blood flow restriction training can be really useful for clients who are experiencing large amounts of pain when exercising or stretching.
This treatment is used by physical therapists to allow people to exercise to fatigue and “good” muscle soreness without irritating their injured tissue. This mode of exercise enables people to strength train at low intensities (minimal added weights), but still create a beneficial response within their muscles. BFR is perfect for those with an achy and painful joint that makes exercise challenging to perform.
At PRO Therapy, we use blood flow restriction training as a part of our physical therapy services.
Physical Therapy With PRO Therapy
At PRO Therapy you will always experience precise, caring, and one on one care from a Licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy – no tech aides, no rehab assistants, no personal trainers – to help you decrease pain by the time you walk out the door of your first session and create a plan to adhere to going forward.
If you want to make physical therapy a success, partnering with one of our Doctors of Physical Therapy is going to help you avoid future pain and resolve current pain.
We Love to Help People:
- Keep Active – So you can run after your kids all day, take your grandchildren to the park with ease, enjoy a nice round of golf, run or walk anytime that suits you.
- Stay Free From Painkillers – So you’re not always reaching in the cupboard for pills to ease the pain whenever it strikes, getting only a “quick fix” when you need a “permanent fix” – PLUS they’re no good for your long-term health, “mask” the pain and certainly don’t actually do anything to fix the problem.
- Avoid Dangerous Injections/Surgery – We’ll help you get to the root cause of what’s going on – so you don’t have to get to the point of having to face injections or surgery.
- Found Out What’s Wrong – We’ll help give you peace of mind and ensure that your problem is “corrected” and “healed” properly – also give you a set of exercises perfectly catered to you to help speed up recovery.
- Get More Enjoyment Out Of Life – So you can enjoy quality time with family and friends that your daily aches and pains steal from you – also finally get a good night of sleep without constantly tossing and turning.
Read Now: Why Our Physical Therapy Team Are Amazing (And What They Have Taught Me)
Are you ready to make physical therapy work for you? Give us a call! We offer complimentary phone and in-person consultations. We aim to meet our patients wherever they are in their journey and answer all questions we can to ensure a smooth experience at PRO Therapy. We want to help you make the best decision for you!
- Sports Therapy vs. Rehab: Which One Do You Need to Get Back in the Game? - January 23, 2026
- From The Gym to the Bedroom: How Pelvic Health Impacts Your Active Lifestyle - January 12, 2026
- New Year, Stronger Core: Why Your Gym Resolution Needs a Pelvic Floor Strategy - January 5, 2026
