Last Updated on July 11, 2024 by Asfa Rasheed
Recently, blood flow restriction has been a popular method of increasing muscle mass. This method is now used in various contexts, from individuals seeking to promote muscle hypertrophy for cosmetic purposes to those seeking to mitigate muscle loss during recovery from injury.
Blood Flow Restriction adds more value to rehab and athletic training as they allow muscle strength, size, and endurance to be developed in an athlete’s body.
Table of Contents
How do the Cuffs Work?
Also known as BFR Bands, these cuffs are strapped around the athlete’s muscle during training or regular practice. The cuff reduces the muscle’s blood flow, transporting less oxygen to the muscle cells.
Moreover, oxygen is essential in the recovery of muscles; hence the limited flow of oxygen allows for smooth recoveries during workouts. Additionally, less flow contributes to an individual using more effort during training or practices such that even when performing the less intense workout, the exercises become tougher since more fatigue is generated.
When the workout is done, the cuffs are removed, thus allowing blood to flow speedily into the muscle cells. Furthermore, this action quickens the post-workout recoveries and also the fitness levels.
How do the BFR Bands Help Athletes?
1. Develop Muscle and Strength
For athletes involved in wrestling, hammer throws, using the bands helps to increase the time required to lift or box. More so, this happens since blood restriction training increase the protein percentage the body uses during exercise- protein is essential to help the body evolve and develop stronger muscles and strength.
In addition, it generates more endurance in the athlete’s body. Endurance in an athlete allows circulation of adequate oxygen to the body muscles. However, using the BFR Bands enable the development of additional blood vessels during training, leading to increased blood flow from the body muscles.
The body’s blood vessels enable more flow of oxygenated blood to the muscles, which is essential for an athlete’s recovery abilities, hence better performance while on track. Additionally, using BFR Bands enables cell energy circulation in the athlete’s body by increasing the amount and size of the mitochondria responsible for glycogen production.
Glycogen is responsible for the amount of energy the body needs and acts as fuel to the body hence leading to better endurance performances. However, it is essential to emphasize the method and application, determine risk and have strict control regarding vital signs to avoid adverse factors.
2. Prevents increased Muscles Loss
Also, for athletes who suffer from some immobilization due to surgery or injury that prevents the regular activity of the skeletal system, this type of training is an excellent option to reduce muscle loss as it will allow them to perform low-based exercises early.
3. Make Workouts More Effective.
The BFR Bands allow athletes to perform effective workouts by boosting muscle growth. This action helps to increase the muscle strength needed during occlusion training.
Conclusion
Training with blood flow restriction can be a perfect application methodology for athletes seeking to increase their strength and muscle mass levels, especially those for whom the high-load activity is not indicated. It also proved helpful in cases of atrophy after a period of immobilization.
Read More: The Role Athletes Play in Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles
