BFR-your new BFF

A simple pressure cuff is giving hope to those people with rheumatoid arthritis who want to continue exercising.

- NICKY PELLEGRINO

Loss of muscle mass and strength is a problem for those with the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis. Sore, swollen joints mean that exercising can be painful, so many sufferers will avoid it, growing weaker and less fit as a result, and gradually experiencing a decline in what they are capable of doing.

To maintain their quality of life, people with this debilitating condition need a form of physical activity that improves strength and mobility without aggravating painful joints.

Hunter Bennett, a lecturer in exercise and sport science at the University of South Australia, is hoping Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training may provide a solution.

In the technique, people wear pressurised bands around the top of a limb - much like blood pressure cuffs while they are training. The cuff allows blood flow into the limb but slows its exit, which helps build muscle without the need to lift heavy weights. The technique originated in Japan in the 1960s and was originally known as Kaatsu training.

"It is often used in rehabilitation scenarios," says Bennett. "If you are coming back from an injury and can't lift heavy weights because there is a risk of re-injuring the muscle tissue or joint, then this is a light, low-risk exercise that still causes a positive response. Athletes might also use it in the run-up to a competition so they can train without inducing fatigue that may affect their performance."

BFR training has already helped people with osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, which is caused by the wearing away of the smooth cartilage surface of the joint.