My name is Marilyn Baker, and I have horrible allergies. I’m 42 years old and have been suffering from allergies since I was a child. I have seasonal and environmental allergies. Allergies plague me year round. When I was young, my parents even moved to a dryer area in the hope of helping me. Over the past eight years, I have done extensive research both through doctors and online. I have managed to come up with some combinations that have helped me a great deal. My allergies aren’t gone, but they have become manageable. I do have to have allergy shots, but I also use some natural remedies. I am happy to be able to share my findings with you here on my blog. I hope you can find some of this of value.
Getting your strength back after an injury, illness, or accident isn't always easy. You may need help from a physical therapist.
While exercises and other rehabilitation techniques can put you on the road to recovery, this can take time. In some cases, your therapist may recommend that you try blood-flow restriction training. How does this treatment work, and what are its benefits?
What Is Blood-Flow Restriction Training?
If you have some muscle weakness or need to rebuild muscle mass in your arms or legs, then strengthening exercises and training programs can help. Blood-flow restriction training is one option here.
When you do this training, you wear a pressurized cuff on the limb you want to strengthen. This cuff usually goes on the area of muscle you're working on. Your therapist inflates the cuff before you start exercising to restrict blood flow into the target area.
As you go through your exercises, the restricted blood flow in the area affects the way your muscles react to activity. Your blood gets less oxygen because its flow is restricted. You also get an increase in useful muscle-building substances such as lactic acid and hormones. Plus, your cells swell up much faster.
All of these effects change the way your muscles react to the exercises you do. This can have significant recuperation benefits for some patients.
Why Do Blood-Flow Restriction Training?
While many people do well with traditional high-intensity rehabilitation exercise, this isn't an option that works for everyone. You need a certain amount of strength and stamina to complete these kinds of exercises successfully.
If your muscles are very weak or if you have a condition that limits your ability to exercise, then you may not be able to manage this kind of high-stress program. For example, if you have a chronic pain condition or an illness that compromises your breathing or immune system, then you might not be strong enough for such as intense workout. Your progress may be slow and frustrating.
If you switch to a blood-flow restriction program, then you get extra help. When you restrict your blood flow, the exercises you do build strength more quickly and effectively. Your muscles get a better workout because the pressure cut-off puts them under some stress. So, you get high-intensity results from low-intensity work. This could make it a lot easier for you to regain strength and rebuild muscle mass.
To find out more about how this rehabilitation training works, ask your physical therapist for advice.
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