BFR Radio

Optimising BFR pressures for aerobic exercise

Hi everyone,

Things have been a little busy lately hence the late podcast.  With my normal S&C work commitments and a few workshops to prepare for I haven't been able to put together my normal schedule of podcasts.  Today's podcast actually appeared on another podcast Snippit Sports Science of which my mate, Jared and I produce.

Speaking about workshops, I will be in Sydney on Saturday October 13th (2 weeks time) to do a new BFR workshop.  Tickets are available through Eventbrite (click on this link to buy your ticket). Alternatively if you know of someone who'd benefit from this workshop I'd appreciate you letting them know and sharing the link.

Today's episode from a practical standpoint helps to understand the optimisation of Blood Flow Restriction pressures when doing aerobic (stationary-based) exercise. I personally have found that dropping my pre-determined BFR pressure by around 20mmHg works best and that if I stayed at this  pressure (I usually do my strength training at) it is just doesn't feel right and is too high. The debate of BFR pressures is an ongoing on and this article helps shed some light as to some great evidence.

Effects of DifferentPercentages of Blood Flow Restriction on Energy Expenditure.

Pfeiffer PS¹, Cirilo-Sousa MS¹, Santos HHD².

Int J Sports Med.2019 Mar;40(3):186-190. doi: 10.1055/a-0828-8295. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze the effect of differentlevels of bloodflowrestriction(BFR) on energyexpenditure(EE) and subjective perceptions of discomfort (SPD) during aerobic exercises.

A sample group of 24 young men was required to walk on a treadmill for 14 min at 40% of their maximum speed, with 4 differentpercentagesof BFR (0, 50, 80 and 100%) applied in the lower limbs (LL) once a week with a 7-day interval between the 4 evaluations. EE data were collected during the exercise periods; SPD data were collected after the exercises.

There was a significant increase in EE at 50, 80 and 100% BFR compared to the condition without BFR, and between 50 and 100% BFR; however, there were no differences between 50 and 80% and 80 and 100% BFR. Discomfort showed a significant increase according to the increase in BFR. During the walking exercises with BFR, the EE strongly increased until 50% of BFR; after this level the additional increases slowed.

It can be concluded that when performing aerobic exercises with BFR, there is no need to use BFR levels above 50% to reach satisfying level of EE with only a moderate level of discomfort to the practitioner.

Snippit Sports Science Podcast is sponsored by EliteForm, which brings together cutting edge Velocity Based Training technologies.  Please visit https://eliteform.com and check out their products, StrengthPlanner and PowerTracker.

 

If you want any more information about BFR training or want to purchase your own set of BFR cuffs please visit my website: www.sportsrehab.com.au

How to decrease muscle loss with passive BFR. "How you do BFR" guest is John Vincent

Hi everyone,

Today's article review was selected after a conversation with a colleague around the use of passive BFR to attenuate loss with injury or limb immobilisation.  This is also very relevant with my recent knee surgery and I've used Blood Flow Restriction heavily to assist my recovery.

The article I review is called:

Prevention of disuse muscular weakness by restriction of blood flow.

Kubota A¹, Sakuraba K, Sawaki K, Sumide T, Tamura Y.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of periodic restriction of blood flow to lower extremities with those of isometric exercise on disuse muscular atrophy and weakness induced by immobilization and unloading.

METHODS:

The left ankle of each of 15 healthy males was immobilized for 2 wk using cast, and subjects were instructed to walk using crutches with non-weight bearing during this period. Subjects were divided into three groups: a restriction of blood flow (RBF) group (application of external compressive force of 200 mm Hg for 5 min followed by 3 min of rest, repeated five times in a single session, two sessions per day for 14 d); an isometric training (IMT) group (20 "exercises" of 5-s isometric contraction of the knee extensor, flexor, and ankle plantar flexor muscles followed by rest, twice a day, daily for 2 wk); and a control (CON) group (no intervention). We measured changes in muscle strength, thigh/leg circumferences, and serum growth hormone levels.

 

 

On "How you do BFR", my guest is Jonny Vincenti who recently opens his facility for me to host a BFR workshop in Perth. He is very generous with his time so if you have any questions please reach out to him.

A little about Jonny:

• John Vincenti has over 20 years of experience in the Strength & Conditioning industry, currently running his own Strength and Conditioning facility in Perth, Western Australia - V-Athletic Strength & Performance. V-Athletic is a private sector facility, concerned with the complete athletic performance requirements from junior to elite athletes. 

 

• John is also currently in his third Season as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at the Fremantle Roosters Rugby League Club (NRLWA) and the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at WESTSTAR Football Academy – an elite West Australian junior Australian Rules Football Academy.

 

• John is an Australian Strength & Conditioning Association (ASCA) Level 3 Coach, Professional Coaches Scheme Professional Coach and Level 3 Sports Power/Weightlifting Coach with the Australian Weightlifting Federation (AWF).

 Contact / Social Media:

• Email: jonnyv03@yahoo.com.au
• Facebook: V- Athletic Strength & Performance
• Instagram: @v_athletic (VA Strength & Performance)
• Twitter: @johnny_vincenti

Thanks for listening and if you want to order a set of your own BFR cuffs please visit my website: www.sportsrehab.com.au

Accelerate recovery from injury with BFR. "How you do BFR" guest is Nicolai Morris

Hi there,

Following exercise, neutrophils are the first immune cells to initiate the tissue remodeling process via several mechanisms including an increased production of cytokines and recruitment of monocytes/macrophages, which facilitate the phagocytosis of foreign particles, the differentiation of myoblasts, and the formation of new myotubes.

This review discusses the mechanisms through which metabolic stress and immune cell recruitment may induce skeletal muscle remodeling following BFR strength training. This is a fascinating concept to consider when trying to provide a thorough robust rehab model and also provides consideration around including Blood Flow Restriction as a valuable addition to any rehab program. 

The Role of Inflammation and Immune Cells in Blood Flow Restriction Training Adaptation: A Review (Front Physiol. 2018; 9: 1376.)

Authors: Fabrício Eduardo Rossi,¹Marcelo Conrado de Freitas,²Nelo Eidy Zanchi,³Fábio Santos Lira,^1,* and Jason M. Cholewa⁴

"How you do BFR" guest is Nicolai Morris.

Nicolai is an Australian Strength and Conditioning Coach who works at Sydney University as the senior strength and conditioning coach working with multiple sports including swimming, athletics, rugby, rugby 7’s, water polo and soccer.  Nicolai has been coaching as an S&C for 12 years working across private, schools, professional and university sport environments.

Nicolai discusses how she uses BFR in her own training and competition as an elite swimmer as well as the different scenarios with her athletes that she trains.  She is also very active on social media providing great insight into the great work that she does.  Make sure you follow her as I am sure you will gain a lot from her. 

Social Media

@Nicolai_morris (Instagram and twitter)

@susfstrengthandconditioning (work Instagram)

 

And thank you for listening to the podcast.  To purchase your own set of BFR cuffs please visit my website at www.sportsrehab.com.au

Ep 12. Money for Jam - improve cycling performance with BFR. "How you do BFR" guest is Jordan Kerby

Hi there,

Thanks for your patience in this episode. A recent trip to the USA has meant that i've had a lot of work to catch up on and hence this episode has been delayed a little.

Today's episode is cycling strong but the concepts in both the article review and the interview with Jordan Kerby highlight how BFR can be used as a training enhancement tool.

The article I review is called:

The effect of 1 week of repeated ischaemic leg preconditioning on simulated Keirin cycling performance: a randomised trial. 

Lindsay, A., Petersen, C., Blackwell, G., Ferguson, H., Parker, G., Steyn, N., & Gieseg, S. P. (2017).  

BMJ open sport & exercise medicine, 3(1).

Ischemic preconditioning involves a continuous cycle of BFR cuff inflation (3-5min) followed by deflation (2-3min) whilst sitting passively.  Aside from this study showing positive effects in 30second cycling sprint performance, the amazing thing is that it requires the user to do nothing except inflate and deflate the cuffs - Money for Jam I reckon.

In "How you do BFR" I interview elite cyclist and world champion Jordan Kerby.  I am always appreciative of people's time but the time and information that Jordan gave in this interview is just amazing.  I urge you to give this one time as what he is doing is reflective of an athlete who is really using all of his tools in the toolbox to maximise his performance.

A little bit of information about Jordan:

Bio:

• Has been in cycling both road and track for 14 years.
• Did 3 years professionally on the road. Along with winning a national u/23 championship. 
• Switched to track endurance cycling as a preference and it suited his physiology better.
• World Champion in 2017 in the 4000m Individual Pursuit.
• Part of the team that won the 2018 Commonwealth Games team pursuit. 
• Ambitions to go to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Outside of Competing:

• Been a commercial cycling coach since 2016. Having coached multiple state and national medallists as well as an Age Group Triathlon world champion. 
• Currently studying a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport through Massey University. 
• Career ambition to coach a High Performance track cycling team at a World Championship or Olympic level. 

Social Media Channels.

• Twitter; @JordanKerby
• Instagram; @jordankerby
• Website that you can see what I do from a coaching perspective. thepedaler.com.au

Again a special thank you to Jordan for his time.

 

And thank you for listening to the podcast.  To purchase your own set of BFR cuffs please visit my website at www.sportsrehab.com.au

Ep 11. Heal achilles tendon injuries faster with BFR. "How you do BFR" guest is Alex Natera

Hi there,

Rehabilitation of an achilles tendon can be lengthy and problematic.  Today's episode looks at two case studies that used Blood Flow Restriction to accelerate the rehab process where "traditional" processes had previously failed. The article I review is:

 Blood flow restriction training after Achilles tendon rupture. The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, 57(3), 635-638. Yow, B. G., Tennent, D. J., Dowd, T. C., Loenneke, J. P., & Owens, J. G. (2018).

In "how you do BFR" I interview Alex Natera who is strength and power coach for the GWS Giants AFL ("Aussie Rules"). Alex is well known for his isometric and eccentric work of recent time, but he delves into his journey of BFR.  Aside from highlighting some very interesting case studies we also discuss the importance of how to engage athletes in type of training methodology.

Alex regularly posts insightful and educational content on his social media so please give him a follow on the following platforms:

Twitter: @alex_natera

Instagram: @alex.natera

Thanks again for listening. 

If you enjoy my podcast, please leave a rating on iTunes.

Also, remember to purchase your own set of BFR cuffs please visit my website www.sportsrehab.com.au

Thanks for listening

Ep 10. Heal fractures faster with BFR. "How you do BFR" guest is Dr. Chris Brandner

Hi everyone,

Before I get into today's podcast, I thought I'd take this opportunity to let you all know that my new shipment of upper body cuffs is not far away. So I thank you for your patience.  

Today's episode builds on episode 7 on the positive effects of BFR on bone reformation.  This article review is a case study of a bodybuilder who had a lower body fracture and not only was able to continue training with BFR but also experienced an accelerate healing environment. 

Loenneke, J. P., Young, K. C., Wilson, J. M., & Andersen, J. C. (2013). Rehabilitation of an osteochondral fracture using blood flow restricted exercise: a case review. Journal of bodywork and movement therapies, 17(1), 42-45.

In "How you do BFR" I interview Dr. Chris Brandner to discuss a variety of topics associated with Blood Flow Restriction.  Chris did his PhD. in the area of BFR and he has seen quite an evolution over the last 10 years. He brings a wealth of academic and practical experience in this area so I am also honoured to have someone of his credentials on the podcast.

If you want to get in touch with Chris, his best social media contacts are:

• Twitter: @ChrisBrandner
• Instagram: @chris.brandner

 

 If you want to purchase a set of BFR cuffs I have my own brand - Sports Rehab Tourniquet and you buy them at www.sportsrehab.com.au.

I also have lots of information and videos on my various social media channels:

• Twitter: @chrisgaviglio
• Instagram: @chrisgaviglio
• YouTube: SportsRehabAUS

 

Thanks for listening.

Ep 9. How to implement BFR in a professional rugby club. "How you do BFR" guest is Ed Lea. Also your BFR questions are answered

Hi everyone and Happy New Year.

2019 will be an exciting year which I feel will see the Sports Rehab Tourniquet continue to grow in the BFR space. Recently I have upgraded the carry box to an EVA Protective Case.  A case will fit both your upper and lower body cuffs and pump. This is a much sturdier and portable solution to my original box. This is included in the normal price for all cuffs.  You can also purchase the case separately if you feel this would be a valuable addition to protect and carry your original SRT cuffs.

In today's podcast I answer a few questions that I get asked reasonably frequently.  These are some fundamental concepts to applying BFR in a practical setting so I think you will get a lot out if. I enjoyed doing the Q&A segment so if you have any other questions that you would like to be answered please contact me through my website (www.sportsrehab.com.au)

I also have Ed Lea from Harlequins Rugby Union on "How you do BFR."  Harlequins Rugby Union club are a professional team based in the UK.  Ed has been working as rehab Strength & Conditioning Coach at Harlequins for 6 seasons and has recently started to implement BFR over the last 12 months.  Ed discusses his journey with BFR but in particular highlights how he uses it in a few scenarios.  

If you want to get in touch with Ed his best contact is Instagram: @edlea87

Thanks again for listening.

If you enjoy the podcast please leave a comment on either iTunes or via my social media:

• Twitter:@chrisgaviglio
• Instagram: @chrisgaviglio

Ep 8."The hips don't lie." BFR Sprinting - an untapped training method? "How you do BFR" guest is Joseph Coyne

Hi everyone,

Today's podcast title is from a well known line from a song by the artist Shakira - "the hips don't lie" which was a line from my guest today, Joseph Coyne.  Joseph is an S&C and sprints coach.  He has a wealth of experience around the world and is a very knowledge coach in a host of different areas related to performance enhancement (aside from just S&C). He has worked in elite sport and played an integral role with athletes such as Sonny Bill Williams, Ky Hurst, Stephen Hoiles and a number of truly elite Chinese Olympians. I had a fantastic conversation about not only how he implements BFR on himself and his athletes but I also got to listen to some of the other work that he does. This short bio doesn't do him justice so really encourage you to give it a listen and reach out to him. Just fascinating.

Today's article review looks at the concept of BFR sprinting and how this may improve performance. The article is: Low-Intensity Sprint Training With Blood Flow Restriction Improves 100-m Dash. Behringer, M., Behlau, D., Montag, J. C., McCourt, M. L., & Mester, J. (2017). The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 31(9), 2462-2472.

Although the athletes in this study weren't elite (by Track & Field standards), it really gives some ideas around this as a concept and a method for inclusion within a training week.  I have adapted this and found that since my knee operation, I can actually do "run-throughs" pain free and recover with no joint soreness after the session.  Prior to implementing BFR, this is something I've struggled with even after 3 years post-surgery.

If you enjoy this podcast please share it with your friends.

Again I appreciate Joseph's time.  He is available for consultation and also provides some great services such as:

• post-surgery intensive rehabilitation
• off-season training program for field sports athletes
• speed coaching
• strength and conditioning.

Website: http://www.coynesportsinjuryclinic.com.au

Twitter: Click here for @josephcoyne

Instagram: Click here for @josephcoyne 

(His Instagram has lots of great videos of his work so check it out)

Email: coach@coynesportsinjuryclinic.com.au

 

Also I have a BFR workshop in Townsville this coming Saturday 8th December.  Tickets need to be pre-purchased so please click on this link for more information and to purchase your tickets.

Thanks for listening.

Chris

Ep 7. Accelerate bone healing with BFR. "How you do BFR" guest is Olympian Jackie Narracott..

Hi everyone and welcome to episode 7.

Today I look at the concept that BFR may assist with improving bone healing.  I review the article:

"Blood flow restriction: rationale for improving bone" by authors, Loenneke, J. P., Young, K. C., Fahs, C. A., Rossow, L. M., Bemben, D. A., & Bemben, M. G. (2012).

I think this concept has great application in endurance running-based athletes and those who may be generally predisposed to high bone stresses.  Typically endurance based athletes aren't too strong, so another benefit from using BFR in their gym sessions could be the strength gains that BFR can give an athlete whilst using lower loads.

In "how you do BFR" I interview Olympian Jackie Narracott who represented Australia at the 2018 PyeongCheng Winter Olympics in the sport of Skeleton.  Being a winter-based sport, skeleton provides a few different challenges and so Jackie discusses how she incorporates BFR into her training and competition preparation. 

Jackie has just commenced her 2018-19 season so check her progress on the following platforms:

Twitter: @JackieNarracott

Instagram: @jac_narracott

Website: https://www.jaclynnarracott.com

Facebook: Jackie Narracott

If you enjoy listen to BFR Radio I would appreciate you sharing it with a friend and giving it a rating on iTunes.

 

Thanks for listening.

Chris

Ep. 6 BFR Bench Press & shoulder pre-operative strengthening (Guest - Jordan Desbrow)

Hi everyone,

If you are interested in upper body BFR training, then this episode is jam packed full of information that has something for everyone.

With gains in muscle strength and size the possibility of increasing frequency of training has merit. Therefore the study I review today looked into performing twice daily bench press at 30% of 1RM for 2 weeks. 

• Yasuda, Tomohiro, et al. "Effects of low‐intensity bench press training with restricted arm muscle blood flow on chest muscle hypertrophy: a pilot study." Clinical physiology and functional imaging 30.5 (2010): 338-343

Two weeks of bench press training led to a significant increase in 1RM bench press strength in BFR. Triceps and pectoralis major muscle size increased 8% and 16% respectively.

A control group who performed the same routine but with no BFR showed no change in strength or size.

The group of males studied weren't well strength trained. Therefore protocols that work well for recreationally trained people may not be as effective in well-trained athletes. Typically in athletes, they need higher-load lifting in their strength routines.

So as a comparison I thought I'd give this a go with a few major alterations.  I also use my results and experiences as a comparison through the article review.

In "how you do BFR" I interview Jordan Desbrow who is an S&C coach at the Qld Academy of Sport.  Jordan recently has a shoulder reconstruction and used BFR in conjunction with an upper body stregthening program prior to his operation. The results he got in 8 weeks were fantastic with quite a simple program.  There were other benefits that he experienced during the training program so make sure you listen in.

If you want to contact Jordan:

Twitter: @jordandesbrow

 

If you use BFR or have any questions that you'd like to be answered please contact me.  

If you enjoy the podcast please give it a rating on iTunes (BFR Radio)

Thanks for listening.

 

Chris