Category: Knee ligaments

Shin Splints Causes, Symptoms and Physical Therapy Treatment
Medial tibial stress syndrome is one of the most common athletic injuries, especially among those who participate in high-impact activities. However, there are other risk factors for shin splints, and not all patients who complain of the characteristic pain along the shin are athletes.
MTSS is a condition that often resolves on its own. Physical therapy can help relieve the pain and prevent it from returning.

What causes shin splints?

There are several muscles in the leg that attach to the shin bone, including the anterior and posterior tibialis muscles, the flexor digitorum longus muscle, and the soleus muscle. These muscles and their connective tissue can pull on the periosteum, a layer of tissue that covers the bone and allows the muscles to attach.

Repeated stress can cause the periosteum to become inflamed, resulting in the pain of shin splints. There are several risk factors that can contribute to MTSS.

1. Physical activity

Athletes who do a lot of running and jumping, such as gymnasts, basketball players, dancers, tennis players and sprinters, are at particular risk for shin splints. An estimated 35% of these athletes eventually develop MTSS.

Due to frequent marching and other physically demanding tasks, soldiers are at risk of developing shin splints, with a incidence rate that can be as high as 35%.

2. Weak bones

MTSS may be more likely in people with underlying medical conditions that weaken the bones, such as osteoporosis or osteopenia. Other underlying medical conditions that can affect bone health and increase the risk of shin splints include eating disorders, vitamin D deficiencies, or hormonal changes in women that can also result in a loss of normal menstruation.

3. Flat feet

Overpronation occurs when the arch of the foot collapses due to the impact of a step. This is colloquially known as having flat feet. If you often walk or run with flat feet, this can strain the tibial periosteum and lead to shin splints. You can also develop MTSS if your arches are stiff or high. Exercising or playing sports in shoes that do not provide adequate arch support can contribute to overpronation and increase the risk of shin splints.

4. Overweight

Carrying extra weight puts more strain on the lower extremities and increases the risk of shin splints. Maintaining a healthy weight is important for shin splint prevention and overall health, but you should begin an exercise program gradually. Demanding too much of the body at once can also contribute to shin splints.

How can shin splints be prevented?

Chances are you will develop MTSS at the start of your athletic season or a new training regimen. In your eagerness to get started, you may try to do too much too quickly, putting too much pressure on your lower legs.

Starting with a gentle exercise program and progressing slowly is therefore important to prevent shin splints. Limiting activity increases to 10% per week helps prevent sudden changes that can trigger MTSS.

If your muscles are not properly warmed up before physical activity, they can put pressure on your shin. Be sure to stretch your entire body, especially your legs, before beginning any exercise or athletic event.

Supportive footwear helps prevent overpronation, so be sure to replace the shoes you use for exercise before they wear out. If you are a runner, replace your running shoes every 300 miles. If your shoes do not provide enough support, you can use arch supports that are specially designed to prevent overpronation.

Try cross-training with low-impact exercises, such as cycling or swimming, to give your lower legs a chance to rest and recover. When participating in high-impact activities, try to avoid uneven, hilly terrain and hard surfaces.

How can physical therapy help treat shin splints?

The prognosis for shin splints is usually very good and most people recover completely. The key is to relieve pressure on the inflamed tissues so they have a chance to heal. There are several physiotherapy techniques that can help relieve stress in the superficial tissues:
- Foam rolling
- Massage
- Tool-assisted therapy
If the tension is in the deeper tissues of the muscle, these techniques may not be enough to relieve it. However, trigger point dry needling is another technique that can reach beyond the superficial tissues to relieve tension in the fibers in the muscle belly. The goal is for the muscle fibers that are better equipped for the task to absorb the stress instead of the periosteum.

In addition to helping relieve the pain of MTSS, physical therapy can also help prevent symptoms from coming back. You can learn exercises to prevent overpronation by strengthening the arch of your foot. Although it may seem counterintuitive at first, strengthening the muscles that control hip movement can help reduce tension in the lower leg.

Your physical therapist may also suggest shoes that provide better support and adjustments to your activities to reduce stress on your lower leg and prevent shin splints from coming back.

As you progress through therapy and eventually return to your previous activities, use pain as a guide and stop when it starts to hurt. Trying to push through the pain of shin splints only makes the problem worse. make an appointment today with a Foothills physical therapist.
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October 24, 2023
Curovate is a physical therapy app for knee replacement, ACL and more

I started my company, Curovate, with a very simple vision, to make physiotherapy accessible to everyone worldwide. That was in 2015. Our physiotherapy app Curovate was originally released on the Google Play Store on August 1, 2016. When we first released the app, it provided rehabilitation for people after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery. Seven years later, Curovate provides rehabilitation for all of the following physiotherapy-related issues on both iOS and Android devices:

The video below gives a short preview of everything Curovate can help you with in your daily rehabilitation. The main purpose of our physiotherapy app is to help you stay consistent with your daily rehabilitation exercises at home after an injury or surgery.

Curovate is a physiotherapy app for recovery before or after knee replacement, ACL surgery, knee osteoarthritis, knee strengthening exercises, hip strengthening exercises or hip replacement. Curovate has been developed and supported by physiotherapists.

To learn more about our app and how it can help you with your recovery, visit our website here. Or download Curovate from the links below and get started on your recovery!

If you need more tailored help during your surgery or recovery from your injury, check out our Virtual Physiotherapy page to book your 1-on-1 video session with a physiotherapist.

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October 24, 2023
College athletes experience worse outcomes after injury due to concussions suffered outside of sport

Researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found that college athletes had worse outcomes after injury due to concussions suffered outside of sports than those they experienced while playing sports. In addition, female athletes who sustained their injuries outside of exercise had more severe symptoms and more sports days lost due to injuries than male athletes. These findings suggest the need for improved recognition, reporting, and monitoring of concussions outside of sport.

The study was recently published online by the Journal of Athletic Training.

Concussions can affect the daily functioning and quality of life of those who sustain them. Prompt recognition of symptoms and early access to care can help minimize these effects. Most concussion research has focused primarily on injuries that occur during sports, but those studies often exclude concussions that can occur outside of sports, usually due to falls or car accidents. Some studies have shown that patients with non-sports-related concussions have worse outcomes, but research on these effects in college-age patients is very limited.

“Patients who experience a concussion outside of sport may lack the resources that athletes who sustain their injury on the field have for concussion care, such as immediate access to health care providers such as athletic trainers,” said first author Patricia Roby, PhD, one of the researchers. injury scientist who conducted this study while she was a postdoctoral researcher at CHOP.

To help address this gap in knowledge, researchers analyzed data from the National Collegiate Athletic Association-Department of Defense Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium. A total of 3,500 college athletes participated in the study, including 555 who had suffered a non-sports-related concussion. More than 40% of participating athletes were female, allowing potential differences in recovery between men and women to be explored.

The study found that athletes who had suffered non-sports related concussions were less likely to report their injuries immediately, possibly due to a lack of recognition of the symptoms outside the sporting environment or a hesitation to report the injury caused by unusual or careless mechanisms . Athletes who suffered non-sports-related concussions reported greater severity of their symptoms, more days with symptoms, and more days of sport lost due to injuries compared to patients who suffered sport-related concussions, and these findings were even more true in female patients compared with male patients.

“Our findings demonstrate that non-athletic mechanisms of concussion injury are an important consideration in college-age young adults, something we had already described in our study in younger children. There is an opportunity to improve clinical outcomes by raising awareness and increasing concussion education. That happens outside of sports and also reduces barriers to healthcare reporting in this older age group,” said senior study author Christina L. Master, MD, clinical director of the Minds Matter Concussion Program at CHOP. “Additionally, our findings regarding gender differences in the trajectory of these injuries require additional research to see the extent to which reporting behavior and access to medical teams contribute to this disparity in outcomes.”

This study was supported by the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health, grants R01NS097549 and T32NS043126, and the Grand Alliance Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium, funded in part by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. NCAA) and the Department of Defense (DOD). This work was also supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Health Affairs, through the Combat Casualty Care Research Program, endorsed by the Department of Defense, through the Joint Program Committee 6/Combat Casualty Care Research Program – Psychological Health and Program for traumatic brain injury under award number W81XWH1420151.

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October 24, 2023
7 things I want my daughter to know within 24 hours of tearing an ACL

As my daughter continues to process the injury, I would do my best to gauge where she is mentally. Is she still focused on the injury itself, or has she opened a window to talk about the recovery process? If I feel like a window has opened to talk about the recovery process, here’s what I want her to know.

5. Throughout your life you will realize that life is not about what happens to you, but about how you respond to it. This is one of those moments.

6. Recovering from an ACL injury involves the same principles that made you such a great athlete. You will apply the same hard work, discipline, focus and mental strength to get back to full health.

7. At some point you will decide whether or not you want to put the same energy you put into your sport into this recovery. If you choose, you can come back from this bigger, faster, stronger (and smarter, too).

The more technical article will come at some point (I still have my list of 20+ items). For me at least, it is my natural instinct as a parent to help my daughter through difficult moments in life (in my case, at 19 months, it is telling my daughter: “It’s okay, no problem” right after she falls is ). I suppose this is why I moved so quickly to technical information in my first approach.

But for now, in these first 1-7 days after my daughter was injured, I just want her to know that she is supported, and that ultimately it is her choice what perspective she has on the recovery process. Once she comes to the conclusion that she is ready to put her full mental and physical energy into the recovery process, the technical information awaits… and we get to work.

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October 24, 2023
Walking tips for a happy and healthy trail

Hiking in Arizona is a breathtaking experience, with its rugged landscapes, beautiful canyons and diverse flora and fauna. As the weather cools in Arizona, more people are hitting the trails for a hike. To maximize your hiking adventures and avoid injuries, follow our six hiking tips to trailblaze happily and healthily!

6 essential walking tips

1. Add dynamic warm-ups

Incorporating dynamic warm-ups into your walking routine should be a non-negotiable practice. Preparing your body for a few minutes before heading out can significantly improve your hiking experience, improve your performance, and reduce your risk of injury. So before you embark on your next hiking adventure, take the time to warm up dynamically – your body will thank you for it.

Related content >> Dynamic warm-up exercises

2. Choose the right shoes for walking

Choose a pair of walking shoes that suit your fitness level and needs. A sturdy sole to prevent slipping, ankle coverage to promote stability, and adequate arch support are critical to preventing injuries along the way.

3. Start slowly

It is crucial that you allow enough time for your walk to avoid rushing and fully immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. Hiking on uneven terrain requires unique skills, including balance and endurance, that take time to develop. Allow yourself to adjust to the rhythm of the trail, enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, and connect with the environment around you. Rushing a walk can lead to missed opportunities for exploration, discovery and appreciation.

4. Carry a cane

Carrying a walking stick or a trekking pole can greatly improve your hiking experience. These sticks provide stability and balance, reduce stress on the joints and increase strength and efficiency by activating the muscles of your upper body. They are cherished for navigating uneven terrain, steep slopes and stream crossings. In addition, trekking poles can serve as protection against wildlife, as support for makeshift shelters, and as an aid in measuring depth and distance. Whether you choose to use them depends on your personal preference and the specific demands of your trail adventure. Still, they can be valuable tools to improve safety and comfort on the road.

5. Stay alert while walking

It should go without saying, but walking is a highly involved physical activity. Even though the beauty of nature surrounds you, make sure you pay attention. Research the trail you plan to hike, including its difficulty, length, and potential hazards. Familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations of the area you are exploring. Take a break and pull over to the side of the trail to take photos, or just take it all in.

6. Don’t ignore your pain

Pain is certainly not gain in this case. It is a signal sent to your brain that something is wrong. If you start to feel pain during your walk, don’t ignore it and keep going. This can often worsen the injury, even if it is relatively minor.

Physiotherapy benefits for walkers

Physical therapy (PT) can be a game-changer for hikers, whether they are seasoned hikers or beginners. PT is crucial in preventing injuries, improving performance, and improving your overall walking experience. Consider consulting a physical therapist to optimize your walking.

At Foothills Sports Medicine we offer physical therapy Rapid Recovery® Injury Assessments for anyone concerned about an injury and curious about whether physiotherapy should be used during treatment. Working with a physical therapist will ensure you are prepared and in the best shape for your next hiking adventure.

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October 24, 2023
What to Eat After ACL Surgery: Part 1

Accelerate ACL clients are designed to optimize all facets of the recovery process. Yes, the technology and training you have access to through the AACL program can deliver breakthrough ACL repair results. But if you don’t give the body the things it needs to recover between workouts, you’ll limit how efficiently you can recover. If your goal is to look back on the recovery process and say, “I did everything possible to have an efficient recovery,” then you need to focus on three important lifestyle factors: nutrition, hydration, and sleep. This article and others to follow will focus on the nutritional side: what to eat after ACL surgery.

If you’re reading this article before ACL surgery, consider yourself lucky: In fact, it’s better to start on these recommendations NOW.

Please note that these are general guidelines based on conversations with our athletes’ nutritionists and dietitians across the country over the years. While they are suitable for most, they are not suitable for everyone. If you really want personalized recommendations, it can be a smart idea to work with a nutritionist or dietitian during the recovery process.

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October 23, 2023
Timeline for knee straightening or lengthening after ACL surgery

More than 200,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgeries are performed in the US every year.^[1] The anterior cruciate ligament or ACL is one of the four major ligaments in your knee.^[2] Aside from a direct blow to the knee, injuries most commonly occur in sports that involve sudden movements, such as a quick stop or changes in direction. Common sports that cause ACL injuries include but are not limited to soccer, American football, basketball and volleyball. ACL reconstruction surgery is surgery that replaces a torn ACL.^[2] The torn ligament is removed and replaced with a tendon; a band of tissue that connects muscle to bone. Regaining full extension of the knee, also called range of motion of knee extension or ROM, is one of the most important goals after ACL surgery.^[1] Many studies show that people can fully extend their knee and have good results after ACL surgery.^[1] However, this does not mean that straightening the knee is easy. That’s why I want to help you answer some frequently asked questions about knee straightening after ACL surgery.

When can I fully extend my knee or knee stretch again?

The goal for full extension or straightening of the knee after ACL reconstruction surgery is usually 8-12 weeks or between months 2 and 3 after your ACL surgery. For most people, the first four weeks are focused on allowing the tendon to regrow and hypertrophy or become larger, while the next four weeks are focused on strengthening the tendon.^[4]

Timeline and possible recommended exercises

Please use the following as a guideline and understand that this is based on research-based ACL protocols, but it may not be suitable for you if you have not had standard ACL surgery. Also check with your doctor to make sure these exercises are safe and appropriate for you. You can also learn about a general ACL recovery timeline by reading our previous blog.

The suggested knee extension exercises below should be performed daily if you have had standard ACL surgery.

Immediate Postoperative ACL Surgery Weeks 0-1

Purpose: To control pain, swelling and inflammation. Place weight on the surgical leg if your surgeon gives you permission to do so.

Assignments:

Muscle setting exercises – contract and relax your leg muscles without moving the leg, just squeeze and relax your leg. These are also called isometric exercises.

Single pumps

Straight legs go up

Heel slips

Knee extensions or knee stretches. Normally you will not be able to fully straighten your knee in the first week. When your leg and knee are flat, this is called 0 degrees of knee extension. In the first week you have no knee extension. Your knee may remain bent when you try to straighten it and this is normal in week 1. Typically people lack 10 to 20 degrees of knee extension and this will be ‘-10’, ‘minus 10’ or ‘-20’, called ‘minus’. 20″ degrees of knee extension. The “-” or “minus” indicates that you have not yet reached 0 degrees of knee extension.

Lie on your stomach and bend your knee, unless you have had a hamstring tendon transplant for your ACL

Other tips: cryotherapy, which is the use of ice or other cold therapy, postoperative compression wrappings such as a tensor bandage, and elevation using ice and compression.

ACL surgery Weeks 2-3

Goal: full weight bearing without crutches with a normal gait or gait pattern

Assignments:

Continue with the exercises from phase 1, may increase from -20 or -10 to 0 degrees of knee extension. It’s hard in the second and third weeks, but you have to work hard to reach 0 degrees of knee extension.

Gait training – walking on a treadmill or a flat surface without crutches

Stationary cycling and DO NOT cycle outside

Usually swimming from week 3, as long as the stitches are removed and the scars are healing properly.

ACL surgery Weeks 4-6

Goal: Near full range of motion, double-leg squats, single-leg calf raises

0 degrees or knee extension

Climbing or climbing stairs from week 4

Assignments:

Step-ups – stand in front of a staircase or step stool, place your foot on it, stand up and shift your weight to the thigh and contract your quadriceps muscles

Step-downs – same process as step-ups, but start with your leg on the step and lower your body and leg in a slow and controlled manner.

Calf goes up

Hip extensions

Hamstring stretch

ACL surgery Weeks 7-8

Goal: Near full range of motion or full range of motion, full weight bearing during normal gait

0 degrees or more knee extension. Many people have knee extension of more than 0 degrees. This means that your knee bends backward more than in a straight line, which is normal. Extension greater than 0 is called “plus” or “+” degrees of knee extension. If a person’s knee bends 5 degrees more than a straight line, this is called “+5” or “plus 5” degrees of knee extension.

Assignments:

Continuation of exercises from phase 1 and weeks 4-6

Exercises that place more strain on the surgical leg and exercises with one leg, such as the step up, lunges and single leg sit to stand from a chair.

How can I improve my knee extension ROM after ACL surgery?

Loss of knee extension is a common complication after ACL reconstruction surgery.^[5] Before your surgery, it is helpful to know that being able to fully extend your knee will reduce the chance of loss of extension after your surgery. Loss of extension can also lead to abnormal articular cartilage and poor quadriceps movement. These are the muscles in the front of your thigh, making it important to stick to your rehabilitation exercises.^[5] Articular cartilage is the tissue that covers the ends of bones where joints form, making it easier for the joints to move. Recommended treatment strategies to achieve full extension include exercises such as extended low-load stretching and calf stretches.^[1] Rehabilitation with knee extension often involves weekly progression. Progress in ROM should be monitored and continually assessed to ensure you are achieving your knee extension goals, based on your rehabilitation protocol and the advice of your healthcare provider.^[4] In this blog you will also find some practical tips for improving your knee extension and knee flexion after ACL surgery.

Conclusion

ACL reconstruction surgeries are quite common and therefore the rehabilitation process and timeline are very well understood and researched. However, people often worry about the progress of their rehabilitation and especially whether they are achieving their knee’s range of motion at a normal pace. Following or adhering to your rehabilitation protocols or programs is critical to the success of regaining full knee extension. It’s important to remember that not everyone’s timeline will be the same, but 8-12 weeks is the average time to regain full knee extension after ACL surgery.

If you have had ACL surgery and want clear daily, weekly and monthly guidance for your knee extension and daily exercises for your recovery, try our Cuorvate app. Curovate offers video-guided daily exercises, weekly range of motion goals and exercises, progress tracking, the ability to measure your knee and hip range of motion, and in-app chat with a physical therapist.

If you need more tailored help during your ACL recovery, check out our Virtual Physiotherapy page to book your 1-on-1 video session with a physiotherapist.

Other recommended blogs

Reference

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October 23, 2023
How to recover from your ACL injury like a professional athlete

Last winter I connected with another NFL player who was going through an ACL recovery.

Before meeting him, he had been working as hard as he could to recover efficiently from the ACL injury. But he had just been to his doctor, who had taken him through several to test to determine how well his recovery was going.

The score on the test wasn’t pretty. So much so that his head coach later told me it caused him to have a panic attack in the parking lot. Despite doing everything possible to keep this player’s recovery on track, they were… well behind.

Fortunately, the player received a referral to call Accelerate ACL. After just a few training sessions with our team and technology, he started seeing steady progress.

After a few weeks he went back to the doctor for further follow-up to test again. His score doubled. The head coach was relieved and sent me a text saying, “I believe his scores have gone up in large part because of your work with him.”

Today, that player is on track to return to the field for the start of the NFL season. During a recent workout at his home, another player was visiting him, and I told him that the technology used in Accelerate ACL workouts is similar to his “cheat code.”

Had this player settled and not sought additional help, his recovery likely would have been delayed, putting his 2021 season in jeopardy. Instead, he’s back on the field and eager to make an impact… we can’t wait to see how it turns out.

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October 23, 2023
Neurological consequences of ACL injuries with Terry Grindstaff

We know that after a lower extremity injury, such as an ACL tear, joint-related symptoms often occur, such as swelling, loss of motion and instability. But as we learn more about these injuries, there also appear to be several neuromuscular consequences.

In this episode, I talk to Terry Grindstaff of Creighton University about his research into these neuromuscular sequelae after an ACL injury, and how this could impact our initial rehabilitation, return to sport progressions, and even long-term outcomes years later.

Show notes

Terry Grindstaff is a physical therapist and athletic trainer with more than 20 years of clinical experience. He has a PhD in Kinesiology and is a professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Creighton University. His research examines the neuromuscular consequences of lower extremity joint injuries and rehabilitation management to improve function. He provides clinical services in the athletic training room at Creighton University and is a member of the volunteer medical pool for USA Wrestling.

Social tools for COS:
–Twitter: @grindstafftl
– Instagram: @grindstafftl

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October 23, 2023
Blood flow restriction therapy can speed your recovery
Whether you are an athlete looking to improve performance or recovering from an injury or surgery, Blood Flow Restriction Therapy (BFR) can be a game-changer for your life. BFR has been one of the major breakthroughs in the physical therapy industry, allowing physical therapists to alleviate atrophy and muscle weakness and achieve strength gains while minimizing joint stress. With BFR, physiotherapists can improve patient outcomes and unlock new possibilities.
What is blood flow restriction therapy (BFR)?

Blood flow restriction therapy, also called occlusion training, uses a device such as a cuff or wrap and places it around an arm or leg to stop partial blood flow to the affected area. Blood flow is restricted by restricting arterial flow and venous return. Restricting blood flow creates higher levels of metabolic stress. Metabolic stress and mechanical strain are associated with increased muscle growth. Exercises can be performed with low-load resistance training and achieve the same (if not better results) as traditional strength training.

Benefits of blood flow restriction therapy

1. Increases muscle growth and strength

One of the biggest challenges after an injury or surgery is regaining muscle mass and strength. Women have a greater challenge than men in recovering muscle function after injury or surgery. Healthy men naturally have high levels of muscle-building testosterone and growth hormone to restore muscle mass, while women have less of both. After surgery, losing muscle size lasts about three days without use. The muscle shuts down due to the stress of a surgical process or injury. Myostatin, the hormone that muscle cells produce, inhibits muscle rebuilding and promotes scar tissue to limit growth.

2. Speeds up recovery

Occlusion training allows patients to achieve their goals in fewer sessions because it can produce similar results to traditional high-load training with lighter weights.

3. Restores muscle function

Rehabilitation with BFR can help minimize muscle and strength loss during immobilization or injury. In addition, it can aid in postoperative recovery and the recovery of muscle function.

4. Improves cardiovascular health

Blood flow restriction training can affect your cardiovascular system similar to traditional aerobic exercise. It can potentially improve important measures of cardiovascular health, such as VO2 max (a measure of aerobic fitness) and endothelial function (the health of your blood vessels).

Common conditions BFR Physiotherapy treats
1. Osteoarthritis (OA): According to studies in the Strength and Conditioning Journal, BFR may help improve OA muscle function and aid in pain management, leading to better overall function and quality of life. Overall, BFR can improve joint health.
2. Sports injuries: BFR treats muscle strains, ligament sprains or tendonitis
3. Postoperative conditions: BFR treats ACL, fractures, Achilles tendon, rotator cuff repairs, joint replacements, etc.
4. Chronic conditions: BFR treats common cardiovascular diseases such as COPD and high blood pressure, which affect more than millions of people.
5. Muscle weakness: BFR addresses atrophy due to various causes, such as disuse, immobilization or neurological disorders.
6. Edema (inflammation and swelling): BFR stimulates fluid mobilization and improves circulation in the affected area. This may especially benefit patients with acute or chronic swelling conditions, such as postoperative or post-traumatic cases.
BFR assessment in physiotherapy

Patients are assessed for the appropriate level of bladder flow restriction. Physiotherapists can use a specialized Doppler, which determines when complete occlusion of blood flow has been achieved. Additionally, a personalized treatment plan and exercise program are designed to ensure the most effective results.

Is blood flow restriction therapy safe?

Many patients are initially concerned about the safety of BFR. Blow Flow Restriction Therapy is safe for post-surgical patients, athletes, seniors and anyone who wants to accelerate effective strengthening results. Therefore, we recommend the use of blood flow restrictions under the guidance of a physiotherapist, as the exact occlusion pressure will be assessed in each patient.

Risks and side effects

At Foothills we are often asked, “Does BFR cause blood clots?” BFR should not impede overall circulation or increase the risk of blood clots. Many case studies have concluded that BFR can release anticoagulant hormones when the cuff is released.

Blood flow restriction therapy is not recommended for patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure. However, if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure or a cardiovascular condition, it is critical to consult a physical therapist or your doctor before considering BFR training. Additionally, they can assess your specific medical situation, evaluate potential risks, and provide personalized advice on whether BFR is right for you.

It is always important to prioritize your health and consult a physiotherapist who specializes in BFR for personalized guidance. If you’re curious if BFR is right for you, schedule a FREE assessment near a Foothills location! We’ve enjoyed helping people from all walks of life return to the sports and activities they love. We look forward to introducing you to the BFR training world and witnessing its incredible impact on your fitness and rehabilitation goals.
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October 22, 2023