Blood Flow Restriction Therapy in OT Brody Worl, OTDS | Doctor of occupational therapy program | huntington university

Project Description

Individuals who experience upper extremity tendinopathies, as well as other various musculoskeletal traumas, injuries, or conditions, often seek therapy services to find pain relief and improvements in their day-to-day functioning. This goal makes it essential for occupational therapists (OT) to provide clients with the best care and treatment possible to help them return to their valued occupations. Blood flow restriction therapy (BFRT) is a therapeutic intervention that is not commonly known or used within the various OT settings, though it could help clients to see improvements from their injuries quicker and/or with less effort than traditional therapeutic interventions (Miller et al., 2021). There is currently minimal research on the effectiveness of BFRT in OT practice in relation to its impact on an individual’s completion of daily tasks and ability to perform motor skills. The use of BFRT with individuals who are experiencing challenges with completing these motor skills could help them to gain independence with completing daily tasks. Additionally, further research from the physical therapy/sports rehab professions supports its potential as an intervention. This capstone project aimed to address practicing clinician’s knowledge and perceptions of the potential role of BFRT in treating clients with a variety of upper extremity injuries/conditions within the OT setting.

Needs Assessment

• The most common form of shoulder pain is a result of rotator cuff tendinopathies. Affecting approximately 30% of the general population, clients suffering from rotator cuff tendinopathies report a decreased quality of life with decreased range of motion, strength, pain, and functional limitations (Abat et al., 2017).
• Blood flow restriction therapy is especially beneficial for patients who cannot tolerate higher intensity rehab exercises as it offers the ability to see similar results while using lighter load exercises (B. Weatherford, personal communication, March 10, 2022).
• Conducted a survey of current practicing occupational therapists to gauge their knowldege and use of BFRT in their own practice. While 76.5% of participants had heard of BFRT, only 35.3% of them had used BFRT in their practice.

Literature Review

• BFRT is the brief and intermittent occlusion of arterial and venous blood flow using a tourniquet while at rest or exercising (Lau, n.d.).
• Research suggests BFRT protocols lead to greater reductions in pain with activity, as well as improved self-perceived function scores (Cancio et al., 2019).
• Studies related to the effects of BFRT on upper extremity (UE) strength note that BFRT protocols lead to an increase in the maximum left and right handgrip strength as well as arm/forearm circumference increases (Bowman et al., 2020).
• Overall, more research has been conducted on BFRT related to physical therapy practice than that of OT. A major aspect of OT is focused on the rehabilitation of the upper extremity, which is even more so the case with certified hand therapists (CHTs) who specialize in upper extremity/hand diagnoses. Further, 85% of CHTs happen to be OTs (AOTA, 2014). This could explain why more studies are focused on the effects of BFRT on the lower body in rehabilitation as physical therapists tend to address the lower extremity more than OTs.

Project Mission Statement

To increase the quality of life and occupational engagement/performance in clients with a variety of musculoskeletal and neurological diagnoses through the incorporation of blood flow restriction therapy.

Project Vision Statement

To foster the development of advanced skill and knowledge in foundational BFRT protocols for future OT practice and CHT certification.