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Scientific Research

Below are links to the scientific research articles that I reference in my recent YouTube video on BFR training!

Low-load resistance training with BFR triggers muscle growth equal or greater than high-load training. 

BFR significantly increases fast-twitch fiber recruitment.

Simply walking in high-pressure BFR cuffs can trigger muscle hypertrophy and strength gains similar to that of resistance training.

BFR can double the increase in muscle endurance capacity when compared to non-BFR training (63% vs 36%) within a period of 4 weeks.

Adding BFR to exercise increases VO2max significantly more, even at much lower work volumes.

BFR combined with EMS electrical stimulation can trigger muscular hypertrophy even under passive conditions. 

BFR-induced muscular hypertrophy is slower to atrophy, making your gains last longer. 

Passive BFR can reduce or completely prevent muscular atrophy in immobilized limbs.

BFR-induced muscular hypertrophy is slower to atrophy, making your gains last longer. 

BFR does all this not only for the muscles below (distal to) the cuff, but also the muscles above it (proximal). For the arm cuffs that means the shoulders, back, and chest... and for the leg cuff that means the glutes and core.

If you train with a BFR cuff on one side of the body, the same muscles on the opposite side of your body (contralateral) will also receive a portion of the BFR benefits... even if they weren't directly trained!

BFR stimulates stem cells to become new muscle cells.

BFR increases the expression of hypertrophy-related genes.

BFR activates and upregulates heat shock proteins.

BFR-induced growth is attenuated (less significant) for muscle that is directly underneath the cuff.

A systematic review of THIRTY-FIVE different research studies on BFR safety didn't find a single adverse event / negative effect.

BFR training improves arterial compliance (decreases stiffness).

BFR training improves vascular endothelial function (vein health).

There isn't a significant drop in gains if BFR is removed between sets, as long as those rest breaks are 30 seconds or less.

BFR provides benefits even if only applied postexercise (after a workout is finished).

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