Blood Flow Restriction and Its Function in Post- Operative Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Therapy: Expert Opinion

Abstract

An increasingly popular method for post-operative rehabilitation of an ACL reconstruction, as a substitute for traditional<br />therapy, is blood flow restriction therapy (BFR). BFR therapy utilizes a pneumatic cuff to simulate strenuous exercise<br />in an effort to stimulate muscle recruitment, mitigate atrophy, and promote hypertrophy in patients with load-bearing<br />limitations. Because this is a relatively new form of therapy, there is a lack of established literature and protocol that<br />is preventing widespread use of the therapy. This article will seek to confirm the value and validity of the utilization of<br />BFR therapy. In order to validate the utilization of BFR, an evaluation of the science underlying BFR will be discussed<br />as well as the technique and exercises preformed during therapy. Furthermore, analysis of other BFR literature will be<br />utilized to lend further credence to the obtained conclusions. Based on the literature, BFR therapy mitigates atrophy<br />through type II muscle recruitment while also stimulating hypertrophy in patients, supporting its use post-operatively.<br />Moreover, positive results from BFR case series also lend credence to its value as a substitute for traditional therapy<br />in patients who have weight-bearing limitations, specifically those who are recovering from anterior cruciate ligament<br />reconstructions.<br />Level of evidence: V