Course Description:

Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Therapy, also known as occlusion training, is a physical therapy technique that uses a cuff to temporarily restrict blood flow to a muscle or group of muscles while exercising. This method can enhance muscle growth and improve strength with lower loads of resistance. It can be used to strengthen muscles and improve mobility after injury or surgery, when the injured area does not tolerate heavy loads. This can improve outcomes and shorten healing time.

Currently, at Corewell Health West, BFR cuffs have been made available at all outpatient orthopedic clinics, and certification is available for free through MedBridge, however we have many clinicians who are not yet using this treatment due to lack of knowledge or training. Our goal is to present the evidence to support the use of BFR and give practical and easy ways to incorporate the use of BFR into everyday practice.

For clinicians who already use BFR, this is a chance to discuss latest evidence/best practice standards, and collaborate with other clinicians to optimize outcomes.