06/22/2025
The three mechanisms that are responsible for benefits of blood flow restriction (BFR) training are…
1. Hypoxia (hypoxic environment)
2. Mechanical stress
3. Metabolic stress
Hypoxia or a hypoxic environment is an environment that lacks oxygen. Hypoxia stimulates hypoxic inducible factors (HIFs) that increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BFNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
BDNF is a neuroprotective protein that supports the survival, growth, and differentiation of neurons in the brain and spinal cord. BDNF plays a crucial role in learning, memory, and synaptic plasticity, helping to form and maintain connections between nerve cells.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a protein in the body that stimulates the formation of new blood vessels.
Mechanical stress is the result of cellular swelling. When blood cannot escape the occluded limb, it is forced to enter the muscle cells, causing them to swell. The cellular swelling leads to an increase in anabolic hormone production, recovery, and muscle protein synthesis.
Metabolic stress occurs due to the build-up of metabolic by-products including phosphate, hydrogen ions, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lactate. Metabolic stress leads to an increase in anabolic hormone production, recovery, and muscle protein synthesis.
The anabolic hormones that are increased in response to BFR are testosterone, growth hormone, and insulin-like growth factor-1
