Have you noticed that new training methods always seem to show up in professional athletes first? At least, this is when you notice them. Despite this trend, many of these training methods often show up in physical therapy clinics first, and blood flow restriction training is no different. As you search for a physical therapist near me you should know about this newer training method and how sports medicine professionals use it as well.
Blood Flow Restriction Training Clarified
When you participate in blood flow restriction training, you have a tourniquet placed on your arms or thighs that blocks the blood from leaving your veins. It does allow artery flow but keeps the blood in your veins. This deprives your muscles of oxygen, induces muscle trauma and swells your tissue cells. All of these things encourage muscle growth.
This restriction also makes your brain think that you have done a much more intense workout. In fact, you can lift less weight or use less resistance and reduce your workout time.
Building Muscle Mass Effectively
Muscles build under three main circumstances. First, your muscles need trauma. They need to become damaged due to your resistance or weight training. When they recover from this damage, they grow and repair, but they do so stronger and larger. Your body prepares for the same kind of exercise in the future, which is often why you need to step up your workouts over time.
When you exercise, your blood also flows faster and more readily. This causes the cells in your muscle tissues to swell, encouraging muscle growth. You also need more oxygen when you exercise, which is why you breathe faster and deeper and feel winded. However, your muscles don’t typically get all the oxygen they need if your workout is intense. Under these circumstances, your muscles produce lactic acid, which causes hypertrophy, the process necessary to build muscle.
When you complete blood flow restriction training, your body thinks it has all the conditions necessary to build muscle. The blood swells your tissues because it cannot leave, you restrict the oxygen to the muscles and you can damage them so they grow back stronger. It doesn’t matter how intense or long your workout is, you will build muscle.
Increase Your V02 Max
When you work with a physical therapy clinic , you can have your V02 measured. This measurement determines how much oxygen your body takes in and uses while you exercise, and you need to determine your maximum level. You see, oxygen causes your lungs to release adenosine triphosphate, which feeds your cells. As your oxygen level increases, your body becomes more resilient and better able to handle exercise, expanding your endurance.
Blood flow restriction training can increase your VO2 max level. When you slow or lighten your exercise program, whether it is short- or long-term, you don’t want to impact your endurance or cardiovascular health. However, this process actually increases your VO2 max level rather than decreasing it.
Improve Injury Rehabilitation
Also, because you use lower weights and have a less intense workout, you can recover from injuries faster. You can also prevent injuries from occurring.
If you want to know more about how blood flow restriction training can help you, find physical therapists in Charlotte who specialize in this treatment.
