Dr. Gustavo Almeida, an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at UT Health San Antonio, has a background working with athletes such as soccer players, UFC and MMA fighters. However, he felt that he could do more and wanted to delve into research. His current research project focuses on blood flow restriction exercise as a potential way to improve outcomes for patients waiting for total knee replacements.
In this study, cuffs are placed around the upper thigh and inflated to reduce blood flow to the legs by 80%. The results have shown promising improvements in muscle function, growth, and strength. Dr. Almeida was particularly excited about his findings that more than half of the patients exercising with restricted blood flow experienced functional gains before and after surgery.
While studying the effects of blood flow restriction exercise, Dr. Almeida made another discovery – that the benefits extended beyond patients waiting for knee replacements. Healthy older adults who engaged in this type of exercise without weights had comparable results to those doing high resistance training. This suggests that blood flow restriction training may provide similar outcomes with less physical effort, making it a potentially valuable tool for various populations.
Dr. Almeida’s work is part of Science & Medicine, a collaboration between TPR and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio that showcases how scientific breakthroughs in San Antonio are shaping the landscape of medical practices globally.
