KAATSU blog posts testimonials, protocols, case studies, techniques and ideas about KAATSU the Original BFR for recovery, rehabilitation, functional mobility and athletic performance. Statements included in this blog have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Showing posts with label BFR
KAATSU the Original BFR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BFR
KAATSU the Original BFR. Show all posts
For who? student-athletes, warfighters For what? Strength, stamina, conditioning, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery
Joe Gomes is the Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC) high performance director responsible for the development of staff and systems that evaluates, educates and prepares elite athletes or warfighters to perform at their best when it matters most.
Prior to joining the IHMC, the London native spent 3 years as the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. While at the Raiders, he purchased KAATSU Masters and KAATSU Nanos and requested extra large KAATSU Air Bands for his oversized athletes.
He oversaw sport science, nutrition, strength & conditioning, player reconditioning and performance analytics, and was instrumental in the design, planning and opening of its new Performance Center near the Oakland Airport. His efforts helped the Raiders increase the number of their victories and boosted them to their first playoff appearance in 14 years.
Prior to the Oakland Raiders, Gomes was a Senior Advisor and Performance Director to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) where he oversaw aspects of programming and monitoring for USASOC as well as research and innovation for human performance initiatives.
The former rugby player and track athlete served as the Director of Performance for EXOS for 9 years where he ran the preparation program for the annual NFL Scouting Combine for 4 years. He trained 35 first-round draft picks, 13 top-10 players and four first-overall picks.
As a consultant, his clients include all branches of U.S. Military Special Operations, the U.S. Secret Service, and numerous sporting federations and professional teams across a number of sports.
To listen to Joe Gomes discuss a wide variety of topics, listen here.
For who? soldiers, veterans For what? mobility, flexibility, recovery
The White Heart Foundation visited retired U.S. Army Green Beret Sergeant 1st Class Joseph Lowrey at his home in Ontario, California last week.
The Foundation representatives is committed to serving the needs of severely injured warriors like Lowrey and filmed a day in the life of the Purple Heart recipient originally from Long Beach, California who enlisted in the Army right after his high school graduation.
Ryan Sawtelle, Founder & Executive Director of the White Heart Foundation, explained, "White Heart is focused on having the greatest impact on [wounded] warriors. Our goal is to determine and address each warrior’s most pressing need with the help of your donation — 100% of which goes toward the warrior.
White Heart was created with the donor’s intent in mind. We believe that donor's dollars are best spent working one on one with warriors, rather than treating them as if they were numbers."
While the Foundation cameras zeroed in on Lowrey going about his day in his home, including red light therapy + KAATSU sessions with KAATSU Master Specialist David Tawil, it was clear that the Green Beret was enjoying the spotlight.
"It is such a joy, honor, and inspiration to work with Joe," said Tawil. "We did KAATSU Cycles on his arms, starting at a low SKU and then gradually building up as we asked him to do simple but challenging movements like reaching for the sky with his left hand. Then we did some KAATSU Walking, initially at a controlled pace and then at a faster pace."
Lowrey used KAATSU daily and nightly [before bedtime] after improbably surviving a horrific gunshot wound to his head during a combat tour in Afghanistan.
While serving with the 7th Special Forces Group on July 7th 2014, Lowrey and his fellow soldiers were tasked to enter an area known to be a Taliban stronghold. The injury occurred during Lowrey’s third deployment while manning the gun turret on top of a truck during an intense firefight against Taliban insurgents.
Immediately after Lowrey was hit when PKM machine gun fire (the round pierced his Kevlar helmet and caused a massive traumatic brain injury to his right hemisphere), the medic onboard heroically saved his life by conducting an emergency tracheotomy on the battlefield. Even so, after surgery, his colleagues were told that Lowrey would not survive.
Inexplicably, Lowrey survived the next day as well as the next week and next month. Just after he and his wife Jennifer welcomed their fourth child, Lowrey was airlifted from Afghanistan to Germany's Landstuhl Hospital where he remained in a coma. Despite being given a small chance of survival by doctors, Lowrey was airlifted to the United States where he rehabbed at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Palo Alto, California at a rehabilitation hospital, and then at Casa Colina and Centre for Neuro Skills in Southern California.
After years of believing in himself and his caregivers through an excruciatingly painful recovery and rehabilitation, Lowrey emerged well enough to move back in with his family albeit without use of his left side and with some short-term memory losses due to his traumatic brain injury.
"My brothers rescued me from the fight," recalled the former highly competitive ice hockey goalie and self-defined fitness fanatic. "It has been a very long road to recovery, but I want to run again. That is one of my goals."
Together with Tawil, the pair delved into every possible KAATSU protocol covering muscle development, rehabilitation enhancement and basic recovery.
But they also concurrently took a deep dive into nutrition, specifically ketogenic diets, and all kinds of healthy biohacks in an attempt to recover from complete paralysis on his left side. "Due to being sedentary for the first time in my life, I gained a lot of weight and was just eating everything including too many hamburgers," recalled Lowrey. "But then I lost the added weight when I began eating a low-carb diet and sleeping right."
But he also experienced significant muscle mass loss while undergoing physical therapy in several Veterans Administration hospitals and medical clinics for four years.
Lowrey started KAATSU in June 2018. Under Tawil's guidance, Lowrey established a smooth-running protocol where he does KAATSU twice daily in the convenience of his home. He does a morning exercise protocol where he focuses on muscle toning, balance and gait fluidity as well as an evening sleep protocol where he focuses on relaxation and vascular elasticity that enables him to get a solid 8 hours of deep sleep.
"I loved how my legs felt the very first time that I tried KAATSU in the comfort of my living room," recalled Lowrey. "I didn't know how to use the KAATSU equipment at first; it was all new to me, but David was patient and taught me and my caregiver how to apply it during my morning and evening sessions. Now it is just part of my daily routine."
Tawil reiterated, "It is important to teach KAATSU users like Joe to understand how to do KAATSU by himself. Because of Joe's limited strength, uncertain balance and lack of complete mobility, we spend all the time necessary for Joe to feel comfortable and gain the maximum benefits from KAATSU.
Lowrey first started with very low-pressure KAATSU Cycles on both his arms and legs. He learned what the appropriate Base and Optimal pressures are for him - both in the morning where Joe does more vigorous workouts and in the evening where it is all about relaxation and getting ready to reap all the benefits of a good night's sleep."
Over the next 8 weeks, Lowrey started to stand, balance and walk with KAATSU.
"We walk around the house and in his backyard," explains Tawil. "But we also go outside in his complex and tackle walking on grass. All of the different textures and slightly different elevations on the grass and a nearby hill are great challenges and objectives for Joe to achieve during his walking sessions. This sort of KAATSU Walking on a grassy hill - so simple for able-bodies people - are extremely helpful for Joe's improvement.
Joe does KAATSU 2 times per day: the first time at 10 am and then again at 7 pm before going to bed. At night, Joe just does simple KAATSU Cycles at a relatively low pressure. This double daily session has been essential for his rapid improvement. He is up to 2,000 steps a day, but his long-term goal is running a marathon."
For more information on the White Heart Foundation, visit www.whiteheart.org.
For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes For what? self-care, Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery
Day 1 and Day 7 Photos
Before and after photos of a young female's toes - one week of doing daily KAATSU protocols, 20 minutes per day
Day 4 and Day 9 Photos
Before and after photos of a young female's toes after doing the daily KAATSU protocols, 20 minutes per day
KAATSU Master Specialist David Tawil utilizes the KAATSU Cycle on his handheld KAATSU Nano for a wide variety of purposes, from increasing the range of motion and strength for paraplegics to improving the muscular strength of Olympic athletes. He does this utilizing the KAATSU Cycle mode on a daily basis with individual sessions no longer than 20 minutes each. The efficiency and efficacy of his protocols are unheard of.
Tawil also utilizes the KAATSU Cycle to help the body heal itself of unsightly problems as varied as improving and eliminating toenail fungus.
Toenail fungus is an infection that gets in through cracks in the nail or cuts in the skin. The toenails change color or become thicker while it can cause pain. Because toes are often warm and damp, fungus grows well there. Different kinds of fungi and sometimes yeast affect different parts of the nail.
"The photos above show the progress Victoria is experiencing with her toenail fungus," Tawil explained. "When I first started the KAATSU Cycle Self-Care Protocols, she had fungus, ingrowths, dead skin, facia and overall stagnation. After treating comfortably and easily over the last few weeks, she is now enjoying stretchy new skin.
We combined KAATSU Cycles with coconut oil, oregano, magnesium and salt for their antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal and antibiotic properties.
While doing KAATSU Cycles with the KAATSU Nano, we gently stretched the toe, her skin, the ankle joint, and her overall foot. We also gave her a magnesium and salt bath for additional antiseptic properties that enabled her local muscles to relax. This combination initially led to a
total removal of stagnation that stopped the fungus in its path. She moisturized her skin with oils and greatly improved the blood circulation with KAATSU Cycles.
Concurrently, she continued to flex and stretch her toes, feet and ankles and kept her feet and toes clean. We could have also added the standard KAATSU 3-point Leg Protocols (e.g., Heel Raises + Leg Curls + Quarter Squats) if she had wanted, but these exercises are entirely optional.
In summary, the KAATSU Cycle Self-Care Protocol is simple: essentially, clean, hydrate, oxygenate with KAATSU Cycles.
The result was the elimination of edema (swelling was reduced via KAATSU), no more curling of the toenails with oil, magnesium, salt, toenail clippers, and the elimination of fungus with KAATSU, antiseptics, and good hygiene."
For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery
Robert Griswold has energy that is palpable. He thinks fast, he talks fast, he executes fast and he swims fast, very very fast.
The 2016 Rio Paralympic swimmer won one bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, but he has been on a tear on the recent 2019 World Para Swimming World Series where he has won every event he has swum.
His specialties include the 400m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 200m individual medley in the S8, SB7 and SM8 classification. He is the world record holder in the S8 200m back in 2:22.04.
The 22-year-old from Freehold, New Jersey is currently studying at Indiana State University, training under coach Josh Christensen.
He is clearly a driven athlete, but he is even more inspirational. At the age of 16, Griswold organized a clinic to educate his community in New Jersey about the sport of adaptive swimming. He exposed and advised individuals with physical disabilities and their families to learn about and seek athletic opportunities that available to Paralympic athletes. He continues to share the opportunities with others who he meets and inspires.
Every morning before his first workout of the day, Griswold understands the value of doing repeated KAATSU Cycles to warm-up his limbs - and repeating the KAATSU Cycles after the workouts as a recovery modality.
He is shown with fellow American Paralympic swimmer and KAATSU user Jamal Hill.
For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes, swimmers For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery
Jamal Hill of Inglewood, California struggles with the degenerative disorder Charcot-Marie-Tooth - but not much else.
The personable entrepreneur is a member of the USA Paralympic swim team and is looking forward to competing in the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Paralympic Games despite living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease which is an inherited disorder that causes nerve damage in his arms and legs. The disease results in smaller, weaker muscles, a loss of sensation and muscle contractions, and difficulty walking. In Hill's case, it significantly reduces the mobility in his legs where his motor function stops at his knee caps and his motor function in my arms is also impacted.
“[The disease] runs in my family,” Hill explained. “It affects my mom a little bit. It affects my uncles pretty heavily. Essentially my motor neurons in my outer extremities, from my elbow to my fingertips and from my kneecaps all the way to my toes gives me a lot of problems.”
But his overwhelming positive nature has enabled him to succeed in a sport he could have easily quit many times.
Currently, Hill is ranked #1 among American Paralympic swimmers and 13th in the world going into the Olympic year. But he has also created Swimming Up Hill, a digital marketing company that markets health and fitness brands, insurance and medical practices.
At its core, Hill's mission is to teach 1 million people how to swim. He works with swim schools in Southern California to help the schools facilitate more lessons for lower cost to the customer.
Hill balances his work at Swimming Up Hill with his participation on the World Para Swimming World Series 2019 where he travels the world, using his KAATSU Nano for recovery.
His next major goal is to compete at the 2019 World Para-swimming Championships in London this September where he will compete among 600 swimmers from 60 nations who are trying to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
Hill is shown above with his fellow KAATSU Specialist and American Paralympic swimmer Robert Griswold of Indiana.
For who? swimmers, student-athletes For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery
KAATSU users Tina Andrew and her son 5-time world champion Michael Andrew will both participate in the new International Swimming League, the first professional swimming league for elite swimmers.
The International Swimming League (ISL) will debut this year as the first professional sports league for elite competitive swimmers. In October, the ISL will host a series of U.S. and European-based competitions that will culminate in a global championship at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
By putting the most popular sport in the Olympics on display, the ISL will shift the paradigm of swimming by offering professional athletes a chance to participate in regular seasons and earn competitive bonuses, prize money, appearance money, and build commercial value.
The ISL was founded by Ukrainian financier Konstantin Grigorishin who has focused on securing and providing sustainable commercial growth in the swimming.
Mixed ISL gender teams will compete for points in fast-paced races - including sprint, relay and skin. The league offers the following characteristics:
* A team-based competition format where swimmers compete for team points
* Financial incentives where each athlete signs two contracts: one with their team and another with the ISL that enables them two sources of revenue: one that runs through their teams and a separate one that comes directly from the league
* Gender equality is guaranteed where 12 men and 12 women will represent each team
* World’s best athletes will participate in the ISL including 75% of swimming's current Olympic champions and world record holders
* Regular seasons with swim meets held around the global from October to December. In 2020, the season will be expanded.
* Zero tolerance of doping is the rule as no athlete with a previous doping violation is allowed to compete and there is zero tolerance policy if doping is discovered
The U.S. will be represented by four teams:
1. New York Breakers headed by General Manager Tina Andrew, mother-manager of 5-time world champion Michael Andrew
2. Los Angeles headed by General Manager Lenny Krayzelburg, a backstroking Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder
3. DC Trident headed by General Manager Kaitlin Sandeno, an Olympic gold medalist, world champion and former world record-holder
4. Cali Condors headed by Jason Lezak, a 4-time Olympic gold medalist
Current Olympic champions and world record holders like Katie Ledecky, Nathan Adrian and Ryan Murphy will serve as ambassadors for the ISL that will kickoff on October 4th - 5th 2019 and will continue almost every weekend through November 24th.
The finals will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on December 20th and 21st 2019. The four best clubs from the United States and Europe will compete for prize money.
For more information about the International Swimming League, visit here or on Twitter @SwimISL, Instagram @iswimleague, and Facebook.
"I have been funding disruptive technology companies in healthcare for the length of my career," explained entrepreneur and former investment banker David Weinstein to Bud Wayne, Editorial Executive of the CEOCFO Magazine.
"I have looked at hundreds of products during my 35 years of investment banking, and landed on a few that I thought were heads and shoulders above everything else. Kaatsu is one of them."
Weinstein's interview with CEOCFO Magazine's Wayne is posted here in full.
For an interview with Weinstein's wife Leidy, visit here.
For more information about the Weinstein's LifeForceIQ concept, visit here.
For more information about the CEOCFO Magazine, visit here.
For who? researchers, Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery
Over 10 years ago, academic researchers from Japan confirmed what KAATSU Specialists have long known: that low-intensity exercise with KAATSU Air Bands leads to muscle growth and strength gains.*
These results had long been known to KAATSU Specialists and users since the 1980s.
Many researchers between 2000 - 2005 tested KAATSU Walking with MRI-measured muscle size and strength (maximum dynamic or one repetition maximum) and isometric strength along with blood hormonal parameters. Testing was done on both control groups and experimental groups of subjects ranging from young men to older women.
The testing was done using 20-minute bouts of treadmill speed of 50 meters per minute.
The researchers found a multitude of benefits and changes among the experimental KAATSU users while there was no change in muscle size and dynamic and isometric strength in the control group..
1. Serum growth hormone was elevated after KAATSU Walking with the experimental group, but not with the non-KAATSU control group.
2. MRI-measured thigh muscle cross-sectional area and muscle volume increased by 4 - 7%.
3. One repetition maximum and maximum isometric strength increased between 8 - 10%
Furthermore, indicators of muscle damage (creatine kinase and myoglobin) and resting anabolic hormones did not change with both groups. The researchers concluded that KAATSU Walking induces muscle hypertrophy and strength gain despite the minimum level of exercise intensity after 3 weeks, and that KAATSU Walking may be a potentially useful method for promoting muscle hypertrophy for a wide range of the population including the frail and elderly.
While these benefits have long been known in Japan, there have been many other applications that have since been developed and researched that address age-related skeletal muscle loss (sarcopenia) that inhibits mobility and increases the risk of developing several diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis and heart disease.
As the implications of KAATSU protocols began to be appreciated by the United States military, researchers like Dr. William Ursprung at Texas A&M University studied the effects of KAATSU Walking to improve aerobic capacity. Dr. Ursprung evaluated the effects of KAATSU Walking on VO2max, 1.5 mile run times, and muscular size at low training volumes and intensities with airman from the U.S. Air Force 350th Special Operations and Tactics Training Squadron.
After three weeks of lower extremity KAATSU Walking, the test found significant improvements in VO2max, significant decreases in 1.5 mile run time, and significant increases in thigh muscle cross sectional area and the researchers concluded that KAATSU Walking represents a methodology for improving aerobic capacity, endurance and muscular size at low training volumes and intensities.
This conclusion mirrored the applications for KAATSU that many far forward-thinking coaches and trainers have known and used. For military personnel and athletes who are looking for concurrent improvements in strength and endurance, they do not always have to move, run, swim, cycle or row at maximum intensity if they strategically use KAATSU equipment.
While movement or exercises with KAATSU equipment performed with intensity will result in significant physiological and athletic improvement, it is always unnecessary.
"As long as their technique and athletic form is correct, athletes and military personnel can realize benefits with KAATSU by moving more slowly (i.e., walking versus running or swimming at a moderate pace versus swimming at maximum speed) rather than always going all-out," explains Steven Munatones. "Perhaps this lowered intensity is appropriate after injuries or immediately after a competition or during a taper phase of training. Perhaps this slower pace or raw speed is simply more appropriate during different parts of any specific workout when an athlete is working on their technique or form."
This phenomena means that the implications and applications of KAATSU usage expands significantly. When benefits and improvements can be achieved at any speed, pace or level of intensity, coaches and athletes can be much more flexible and creative in their training decisions.
For example, instead of only going all-out sprints with KAATSU, runners, cyclists, swimmers, rowers and skiers can practice at more moderate pace - which means that KAATSU can be done more frequently and with less resultant fatigue.
The same effects of KAATSU have been found with other KAATSU-using mammals like horses, mice, rats, and goats in testing performed in Japan and China.
The photo above show Chinese scientists attaching standard KAATSU Air Bands on the hind legs of goats in northern China under the auspices of China's State General Administration of Sports, the government agency responsible for sports in China that also administers the Chinese Olympic Committee.
Kenneth McKeever, Ph.D., FACSM serves as the Associate Director of Research and is a Professor of Animal Sciences at The Rutgers Equine Science Center. The Center is part of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and is dedicated to better horse care through research
and education to advance the well-being and performance of horses and the equine industry.
Since 1995, Professor McKeever has proceeded to build, develop, and coordinate one of the most active Equine Exercise Physiology laboratories in the USA. One of the most interesting studies that Professor McKeever conducted in collaboration with his colleagues Professors Abe, Kearns, Filho and Sato of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the Tokyo Metropolitan University and the Department of Ischemic Circulatory Physiology at The University of Tokyo in Japan.
Professor McKeever and his fellow researchers delved into the efficacy of KAATSU being used as both as a therapeutic method as well as a training aid. The purpose of their study was to investigate the effects of slow KAATSU Walking on muscle and tendon size.
They studied 6 healthy, unfit Standardbred mares performed walking (240 meters/minute for 10 minutes and then a 5-minute recovery) with KAATSU, and 6 mares performed walking without KAATSU. The KAATSU Air Bands - the same model and type that were used by humans and with the goats in China - were inflated using KAATSU equipment and placed at the most proximal position of the forelegs and inflated to a pressure of 200-230 mmHg throughout the KAATSU walking and recovery sessions.
The training was conducted once a day, 6 days/week for 2 weeks. Skeletal muscle thickness and tendon thickness were measured using B-mode ultrasound at baseline and after 2 weeks of training. Venous blood samples were obtained before the first acute exercise and 5, 15 and 60 minutes afterwards. Serum somatotropin concentration was determined using a commercially available equine-specific ELISA kit.
The professors found that the acute increase in plasma somatotropin was 40% greater (P<0.05) in the KAATSU Walking group than in the Control-walking group 5 minutes after exercise and remained elevated (P<0.05) at 15 and 60 minutes post exercise compared with the Control-walking group. After 2 weeks of training, muscle thickness increased (P<0.05) 3.5% in the KAATSU Walking group, but did not change in the Control-walking group (0.7%). Tendon thickness did not change (P>0.05) in either group.
They concluded that these data demonstrate that KAATSU can induce muscle hypertrophy in horses and suggest that KAATSU may provide significant therapeutic/rehabilitative value in horses, as has been shown in humans.
"I can simultaneously track and archive the oxygen level in my blood, my pulse, the number of breaths per minute, a measure to understand how well hydrated that I am, and other data points that indicate changes in blood circulation and heart rate recovery.
We use the Masimo with the athletes of all abilities and individuals of all ages recovering from injuries who we work with."
The six specific parameters that can be tracked noninvasively include the following data points:
1. SpO2 or Oxygen Saturation is the oxygen level in your blood that indicates changes due to your heart or lung function, oxygen use by your body, or altitude. It is a percentage of hemoglobin in the blood that is saturated with oxygen. The unit of measure is percentage (%).
2. PR or Pulse Rate is the number of your heart pulses per minute that indicates your overall fitness or exertion levels at any time. The unit of measure is beats per minute (bpm).
3. RRp™ or Respiration Rate is the number of breaths per minute that indicates how well your heart and lungs function or how quickly you recover from exercise. It is a measurement of respiration rate based on changes in the plethysmographic waveform. The unit of measure is respirations per minute (RPM).
4. PVi® or Plethysmograph Variability Index is the variation in perfusion index over your breathing cycle, which may indicate changes in hydration, breathing effort, perfusion, or other factors. The Plethsymographic Waveform displays your real-time pulse pressure waveform. To properly measure your PVi®, you should lay down relaxed in a horizontal position and take it at the same time of the day in the same position.
5. PI or Perfusion Index is the strength of your blood flow to your finger that indicates changes in blood circulation. It is the ratio of the pulsatile blood flow to the non-pulsatile blood in peripheral tissue used to measure peripheral perfusion. The Perfusion Index values ranges from 0.02% for a very weak pulse to 20% for an extremely strong pulse.
6. The Heart Rate Recovery Calculator can track the heart’s ability to return to normal levels after vigorous physical activity. Fitness level and proper heart function are measured by the recovery phase. A heart that is fit will recover at a quicker rate than a heart that is not accustomed to regular exercise. The first minute of recovery is the most crucial. After exercise, your heart rate experiences an abrupt drop during the first minute. This recovery period can indicate cardiovascular fitness level.
The Masimo's Heart Rate Recovery Calculator is used by putting on the MightySat on your finger right after exercise and opening the Masimo mobile app. After 60 seconds, you will receive your percentage score.
As a general rule, a lower recovery heart rate following vigorous exercise is better.
For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes, women For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery
After a year of training, Leidy Weinstein entered three National Physique Committee Bikini Class bodybuilding competitions: finishing 5th, 4th, and finally winning the National Physique Committee Florida Gold Cup Open division to qualify for the U.S. national championships.
Her achievement is certainly admirable, but it pales in comparison to her life journey, her drive to overcome adversity, and the unique training protocol she developed in the process.
Leidy grew up in the slums outside of Cali, Colombia where food was scarce, the roof leaked, and her dreams of becoming a competitive athlete were far from anything remotely possible. The food that was available was mostly corn based or fried meat. As a result, she was overweight as a child. Leidy was raised by her grandmother and did graduate from a local school at 16 years old, but she became pregnant that year.
At 17, she found herself sharing a room with a relative in Cali and raising a newborn child. With help from relatives, she worked two jobs to make ends meet.
Then, two years later, Leidy was shot by robbers. Her right arm was shattered and had to be reconstructed with metal plates. The future seemed bleak.
The next year she met her first husband who was visiting Colombia. They married and moved to Florida. Her life was still tough. She worked 10 hours a day cleaning houses and gyms including the home of the gym owners. While cleaning the owners' house, she noticed many trophies for bikini body sculpting and dreamed of winning competitions. During her off time, she began to work out at a local gym.
After getting divorced six years ago, Leidy met her soul mate David Weinstein who she eventually married. En route to delivering their baby, Leidy gained a lot of weight – over 100 pounds (45 kg). When their baby Natasha was born, Leidy tipped the scales at 250 pounds (113 kg). To make matters even worse, the plates in her arm - from her gunshot wounds - broke during the pregnancy and she could not use her left arm as a result.
The surgeons said that there was a 75% chance she would never be able to use her left hand again and she would only have limited use of the arm. After a seven-hour surgery, they were able to reconstruct her nerves and put in new plates. Her husband recalls, "We waited, but an hour after she awoke, Leidy was able to move her hand. She needed yet one more surgery 3 months later before she would be allowed to exercise."
One day in the summer of 2016 while she was recovering, Leidy proclaimed that she wanted to help women lose weight and take control of their health. She decided the best way to help others was to lead by example. She embarked on a path that day with a vision – to lose 100 pounds, sculpt her body, and win a bikini championship. "It was a nice dream in search of an action plan," says David, an entrepreneur in the fields of medicine and biotechnology, who established a new company called LifeForceIQ in Boca Raton, Florida [see below].
Her original plan came from LifeForceIQ. David explains, "LifeForceIQ takes a radically different approach to optimizing health and vitality. It approaches each person by transforming their health biologically, one cell at a time. The equipment and training protocol combines the Japanese blood flow modification system called KAATSU with TRX, light weights, infrared sauna, and LiveO2. Additionally, she ran blood tests for food allergies and then grew organic vegetables, bought grass-fed beef from Montana, and wild salmon from Alaska."
David describes her typical daily training. "Upon waking at 5:30 am, Leidy spends the first 30 minutes in prayer, thanking God for all she has and asking him to assist her in helping others. Then she takes LifeForceIQ supplements to increase nitric oxide and oxygen delivery to her muscles and physique in order to gain lean muscle mass, reduce body fat, and increase strength as well as Rejuvenation to selectively reduce oxidation.
She washes them down with Fat Transformer which provides and energy boost and increases metabolism. The power of these supplements in that they work synergistically with a KAATSU circuit, TRX, and cycling with LiveO2.
We wanted to learn from the inventor of KAATSU so we traveled to Tokyo in order to learn from Dr. Yoshiaki Sato [see photos below]. Our initial session was intense."
Leidy was ready.
"She listened to Dr. Sato's advice and followed his protocols to the letter," observed KAATSU Master Specialist David Tawil who participated in the initial session with Leidy. "Leidy was pumped psychologically and became so physiologically toned - ripped - it was unbelievable."
Dr. Sato started Leidy with several KAATSU Cycles, gradually increasing her Optimal Pressure from 150 SKU to 300 SKU on her arms. "Leidy's skin gradually started to get pink and then became a healthy glow of red by the end of several KAATSU Cycles," said Tawil. "Then Dr. Sato went from the KAATSU Cycle modality right into KAATSU Training when he untethered Leidy and did a variety of short exercises from isometric exercises to triceps extensions on a bench."
Leidy then went into the recovery mode with a finishing KAATSU Cycle. She recalled the experience, "I felt great - like I just had an hour-long workout in the gym. But KAATSU got me to muscular failure within minutes. It is so efficient and effective when the blood is pooled in your limbs."
In her morning regimen, Leidy hits the bike first. Leidy likes to alternate between climbing and riding her Schwinn Blue stationary bike while using the LiveO2 system. The system let her perform a high intensity interval training (HIIT) program while breathing highly oxygenated air to saturate her tissues with oxygen. Every other sprint, she will down regulate the oxygen to high altitude hypoxic training. In this way, her circulatory system expands and contracts. This allows her cells to detox and increase metabolism simultaneously.
After 30 minutes, she will do some stretching or a spend a few minutes on the inversion table. She wraps up the cardio portion of the workout with a Tabata set either with kettle bells of jumping on a mini trampoline.
Then it is time to do an upper body cycle of KAATSU. By running a squeeze and release warmup KAATSU Cycle, the blood vessels begin to vasodilate. Then Leidy fixes her optimal pressure and begins to run three sets of different exercises addressing her biceps, triceps, shoulders, back and pecs.
Both the KAATSU and Blood + Physique supplements increase nitric oxide production which allows oxygen to nourish the body and carry away waste products. Additionally, due to KAATSU, lactic acid is produced and trapped in the veins as the venous flow (blood return to the torso) is modified. Signals are sent from the veins through the central nervous system to the pituitary gland and the brain is alerted that human growth hormone is needed. Growth hormone production increases which optimizes her physique and uses increased energy which burns fat.
On alternate days, Leidy will do KAATSU on her legs either with TRX or weight machines.
Following the morning workout, Leidy takes a 45-minute infrared sauna with red light therapy applied at the end. She alternates the sauna programs for weight loss and pain relief. When finished, it is time for a 5-minute cold shower with aromatherapy. Following this, she downs a green juice cleanse. She rotates her diet between ketogenic protocols and paleo plans that are combined with intermittent fasting.
Her husbands summarizes her day and training, "By the time the morning has started for most people, Leidy has already cooked lunch for the family which is followed by cleaning the house, training clients, and preparing dinner. The evening will be filled with stories about what happened at school, why is the world the way it is, and what can we do about it.
At the end, each day is a blessing and Leidy embraces each day as precious."
For who? runners, Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery
KAATSU users follow a variety of KAATSU protocols in order to (1) avoid shin splints or (2) recover from the inflammation and reduce the pain levels of shin splints, and (3) strengthen the calves, quadriceps and glutes.
Safety Protocols
* Be very well hydrated (at a level where your urine is nearly clear)
* Always and only do KAATSU Cycle sets before and after exercise (e.g., running)
* Start off with conservative (low) SKU pressures on the KAATSU Cycle mode and gradually increase the SKU pressures on subsequent KAATSU Cycle sets
* Start off by doing KAATSU on your arms and then move to your legs - and never do KAATSU simultaneously on both the arms and legs
* Hands and legs should have a pink or rosy appearance when doing KAATSU
* Limit time duration of band inflation to 20 minutes
Systemic effects with KAATSU Air Bands on Arms
* Do KAATSU Cycle sets on your arms while doing the KAATSU 3-Point Exercises: slowly do hand clenches + biceps curls + triceps extensions while contracting the muscles in both the negative and positive direction
* Do the KAATSU Cycle sessions twice daily, if possible
* Do the first KAATSU Cycle set at a low SKU pressure (e.g., 100 SKU). This level of pressure may not seem to be too difficult, but the first Cycle sets should be seen as a warm-up. Then do the next 2-4 sets at increasingly higher pressures (e.g., 120 SKU, 140 SKU, 160 SKU, 180 SKU) if the pressure feels comfortable.
* Nothing should be done vigorously and everything should feel comfortable. It is a possible addition to do up to 10 minutes of KAATSU Constant on a low SKU pressure after the KAATSU Cycle sets are completed - but not necessary.
KAATSU Legs and/or KAATSU Walking
* Do 1-3 sets of KAATSU Cycle sets on your legs while simply sitting and relaxing. Follow the same protocol with the legs as with the arms; that is, start with a low, conservative pressure (e.g., 150 SKU) on the legs and then increase the SKU levels on the subsequent sets.
* Stretch or simply walk (if capable) at a comfortable pace (or pace back and forth in a room or office) for 5-15 minutes doing the next 2-5 KAATSU Cycle sets at an increasingly higher pressure. For example, start off with 150 SKU, then move to 170 SKU on the next Cycle set, then 190 SKU and 210 SKU if those pressures feel comfortable.
* KAATSU Walking will greatly help with improved circulation and generate a hormonal response which will help. If walking is uncomfortable, then simply stretch or do the 3-Point Exercises on the legs (sitting heel raises + standing leg raises + quarter non-lock squats).
* There is no need to do squats or any vigorous movements if you are comfortable. If you cannot walk comfortably, then you can simply contract his quadriceps and hamstrings or do heel raises while sitting. But always stop if you do not feel comfortable.
* Over time, you should feel comfortable at increasing the SKU pressure.
For who? swimmers, cyclists, student-athletes For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery
A growing number of athletes from professional MMA fighters to high school swimmers in Louisiana and college swimmers at the University of Alabama use KAATSU before, during and after their workouts and performances.
The KAATSU Nano offers these athletes the opportunity to safely and effectively improve blood circulation before intense competitions.
For who? gymnasts, student-athletes For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery
Wednesday, Day 1: Roy, a young gymnast, hurt his thumbs, especially his [discolored] right thumb, during his gymnastic practice. He was in pain and worried about his upcoming gymnastic event.
Thursday, Day 2: With a gymnastic competition scheduled the next day, the 13-year-old did several KAATSU Cycle sets both before and after his practice.
Friday, Day 3: On the day of his wrestling match, he did KAATSU Cycle sets again on the Friday morning of his match. His discoloration went away, his pain level fell significantly, and he performed well in his competition.
His KAATSU Cycle sets included the following protocol:
1. KAATSU Arms performed once at 20 SKU Base Pressure and 100 SKU Optimal Pressure.
2. KAATSU Arms performed once at 20 SKU Base Pressure and 120 SKU Optimal Pressure.
3. KAATSU Arms performed once at 20 SKU Base Pressure and 140 SKU Optimal Pressure.
"He could have probably used higher (SKU) pressures, but this was the first time the young athlete used KAATSU, so we used very conservative pressures. He works out 4 hours on weekdays and 3 hours on Saturday, so he is in excellent physical shape," explained Steven Munatones.
"With the KAATSU Cycle sets, our aim was to reduce his pain levels, regain his range of motion and grip strength as soon as possible.
So multiple KAATSU Cycle sets done twice per day was our recommended protocol and it worked not surprisingly."
For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, elderly For what? functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery
Time and time again, male and female users of KAATSU have seen their varicose veins either go away or be minimized.
While eliminating or reducing their varicose veins was not their original goal, the cosmetic effect of this outcome has been greatly appreciated by many - including women who have just given birth and older retirees of both ages.
To understand why this improvement occurs, it is important to understand how and why varicose veins appear in the first place.
Varicose Vein Causes
Blood flows into your legs through arteries and returns back to the heart in your veins. Veins have valves inside them to stop the blood from flowing the wrong direction. These valves can lose their elasticity, stop working properly or otherwise become weak or damaged.
Weak or damaged valves in your legs can lead to varicose veins. While your heart is strong enough to efficiently pump blood through your torso, it needs help to enable blood to flow to and from your lower body. To return blood to your heart, the veins in your legs must work against gravity.
Muscle contractions in your lower legs act as pumps and the elastic vein walls help blood return to your heart. Tiny valves in your veins open as blood flows toward your heart. The valves then close to stop blood from flowing backward. If these valves are weak or damaged, blood can flow backward and pool in the vein, causing the veins to stretch or twist.
Aging causes the valves in your veins to become weaker and eventually that leads to the valves allowing some blood to flow back into your veins where it collects instead of flowing up to your heart.
Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged veins. The veins that most commonly affected are veins in your legs because standing and walking upright increases the pressure in the veins of your lower body.
For many people, varicose veins and spider veins — smaller, thinner, more mild variation of varicose veins that can also be found on your face — are more of a cosmetic worry. For some people, varicose veins causes pain and discomfort and sometimes lead to more serious problems that should be addressed by your personal physician.
So if you have veins in your legs that are dark purple or blue in color, look like they are twisted and bulging, people are often advised to ;
exercise, elevate their legs or wear compression stockings that can help you ease the pain of varicose veins and may prevent them from getting worse.
Recommendations
Medical professionals understand that individuals cannot completely prevent varicose veins, but it is widely know that improving blood circulation and muscle tone can reduce the risk of developing varicose veins and getting additional ones. This self-treatment can include exercise, proper nutrition, avoiding obesity, frequently changing your sitting and standing position if you have a tendency to not move much at work or home.
KAATSU Benefits
This is how KAATSU can useful and effective.
There are two primary outcomes and mechanism: (1) Improved blood flow and (2) Increased vascular elasticity. Both which help the valves in your legs function normally and eliminate or reduce the backed-up blood near these areas.
Improved Blood Flow
Research at the University of Tokyo Hospital showed that regular intermittent modification of venous flow (from your limbs back to your torso) with the KAATSU Air Bands and KAATSU equipment on the legs leads to blood shifting to the lower part of the body while blood flow is temporarily decreased in the parts of the body above your heart. Your brain perceives this minor shift and, as a result, directs your heart to increase blood flow. The increased blood flow improves blood circulation throughout the entire body and the blood in the peripheral arteries flows more smoothly.
Increased Vascular Elasticity
As we age, the natural elasticity of our capillaries, veins and arteries is reduced. When blood vessel walls lose its elasticity, the smooth circulation of blood is reduced. When the venous flow is intermittently modified with KAATSU equipment on your legs, the blood flow is temporarily reduced in your upper body and the blood vessels throughout your body attempts to supply an increased amount of blood.
This is a natural phenomenon and is what the human body and brain have evolved to do.
When the KAATSU Air Bands are released (every 20 seconds in the KAATSU Cycle mode), this mechanical modification (alternately creating constriction and dilation) stimulates the blood vessels and enhances blood vessel elasticity - even if you are sitting down and relaxing. When venous flow is modified, blood must be pushed harder to bring sufficient amount of blood to each cell in your body.
In addition, there are two other natural physical phenomena that occur: (1) vascular endothelial cells generate nitric oxide that helps to restore your natural vascular elasticity, and (2) new blood vessels are formed to efficiently supply a limited amount of blood.
These effects lead to the improved valve function and elimination or significant reduction of varicose veins.
How to Use KAATSU with Varicose Veins
* Always start slowly and gently with your KAATSU equipment.
* Always be well hydrated before and during your KAATSU sessions.
1. There are 3 different ways to improve your varicose veins. All the protocols should be performed with relatively low SKU pressure and not done with vigorous exercises. Slow and gentle movements are best, but people who are de-conditioned due to a sedentary lifestyle or injuries can also simply sit while doing the KAATSU Cycles.
2. The easiest and most convenient exercise is to simply sit and do several (3-6) KAATSU Cycles with the KAATSU leg bands on. You can do this anytime you are working in your office, watching TV or relaxing anywhere. The KAATSU Cycle pressure can start conservatively (i.e., a low SKU) and then gradually increase with each subsequent KAATSU Cycle (from KAATSU LOW to KAATSU MEDIUM pressure settings).
3. The next best and more effective exercise is to do the standard KAATSU 3-Point Exercises with the KAATSU leg bands on while using the KAATSU Cycle mode: (1) Heel Raises done slowly while sitting, (2) Leg Raises while standing, and (3) Non-lock Partial Squats. See videos above for ideas and suggested exercises that can be done in your home or office. You can also do a variety of other exercises [see video below].
4. The best and most optimal exercise is KAATSU Walking. With the KAATSU C3 or next-generation KAATSU B1, you can walk with the KAATSU leg bands on while using the KAATSU Cycle mode. The KAATSU Walking can also be on a treadmill or outside anywhere or indoors in your home or office.
Contraindications
If you have cardiac issues or serious vascular issues, consult your physician before beginning any exercise program.
However, the KAATSU Cycle mode has been used safely and without contraindications with over 7,000 individuals with documented cardiac issues (heart bypass, heart attack) or who have survived strokes.
It is important and strictly recommended to only use the KAATSU Cycle mode with anyone with health concerns. All of the standard KAATSU protocols are essential to follow: use conservative pressure, be well hydrated before and during KAATSU sessions, always start with the KAATSU Cycle mode to help warm-up the body and vascular system, and move slowly and conservatively (i.e., not vigorously).
The standard KAATSU core and lower back exercises with the KAATSU Cycle mode can also be useful for individuals with varicose veins.
Core & Lower Back #1 Exercise
1. Manually tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU (i.e., with One-finger Tightness).
2. Start with 1 set of KAATSU Cycles on your legs in the LOW pressure setting.
3. Sit straight up in a chair or couch with your hips near the edge.
4. Slowly exhale and slowly lean forward, tightening your abdominal muscles as strongly as possible until your stomach is close to your legs.
5. Hold and then slowly inhale air on your return to a sitting position with good posture.
6. Repeat as you desire - up to a maximum of 6 sets of KAATSU Cycles.
7. If comfortable, you can increase to MEDIUM or HIGH pressure settings after the initial set in the LOW pressure setting.
Core & Lower Back #2 Exercise
1. Manually tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate SKU (i.e., with One-finger Tightness).
2. Start with 1 set of KAATSU Cycles on your legs in the LOW pressure setting.
3. Stand on one foot, balancing only on your other leg for as long as possible.
4. When your balance is lost, rest for 10-20 seconds and repeat two more times.
5. After 3 times, balance on your other foot.
6. This act of balancing will create instability in your core and will help strengthen your stomach and lower back.
7. If comfortable, you can increase to MEDIUM or HIGH pressure settings after the initial set in the LOW pressure setting.
Core & Lower Back #3 Exercise
1. Manually tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU (i.e., with One-finger Tightness).
2. Start with 1 set of KAATSU Cycles on your legs in the LOW pressure setting.
3. Place a book on your head and walk slowly until the book falls off.
4. Rest 10-20 seconds and repeat the walk again two more times with the book on your head.
5. Walking straight slowly, especially on an uneven surface like a sandy beach, will create instability in your core and will help strengthen your stomach and lower back.
6. If comfortable, you can increase to MEDIUM or HIGH pressure settings after the initial set in the LOW pressure setting.
Core & Lower Back #4 Exercise
1. Manually tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate SKU (i.e., with One-finger Tightness).
2. Start with 1 set of KAATSU Cycles on your legs in the LOW pressure setting.
3. Stand on one foot while holding a water bottle in each hand.
4. Hold the water bottle in your outstretched arms and stand as long as possible on one leg.
5. When your balance is lost, rest 10-20 seconds and repeat two more times.
6. After 3 times, balance on your other foot.
7. In order to make this exercise more difficult, move your outstretched arms left and right, and up and down in an asymmetric manner while balancing on one foot.
Core & Lower Back #5 Exercise
1. Tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU (i.e., with One-finger Tightness).
2. Start with 1 set of KAATSU Cycles on your legs in the LOW pressure setting.
3. Lie on your back and slowly bring one leg one up to your stomach and hold. Grab your knee with your arms to stretch your back.
4. Continue to lie on your back and slowly pull both your legs up to your stomach and hold. Grab your knees with your arms to stretch your back.
5. Repeat as desired - up to a maximum of 6 sets of KAATSU Cycles.
6. If comfortable, you can increase to MEDIUM or HIGH pressure settings after the initial set in the LOW pressure setting.
Core & Lower Back #6 Exercise
1. Tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU (i.e., with One-finger Tightness).
2. Start with 1 set of KAATSU Cycles on your legs in the LOW pressure setting.
3. Lie on your back and slowly lift your hips off the floor and hold. Bring your hips to the ground and repeat as desired.
Core & Lower Back #7 Exercise
1. Tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU (i.e., with One-finger Tightness).
2. Start with 1 set of KAATSU Cycles on your legs in the LOW pressure setting.
3. Lie on your back and slowly lift both your feet off the ground and hold. Repeat as desired.
4. Lie on your back, lift both your feet off the ground, and kick your feet slightly off the ground.
5. Repeat as desired - up to a maximum of 6 sets of KAATSU Cycles.
6. If comfortable, you can increase to MEDIUM or HIGH pressure settings after the initial set in the LOW pressure setting.
Core & Lower Back #8 Exercise
1. Tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU (i.e., with One-finger Tightness).
2. Start with 1 set of KAATSU Cycles on your legs in the LOW pressure setting.
3. Lie on your back and slowly pandiculate (i.e., stretch and stiffen your trunk and limbs, extending your toes, feet, arms and hands as you do upon waking).
4. Repeat as desired - up to a maximum of 6 sets of KAATSU Cycles.
5. If comfortable, you can increase to MEDIUM or HIGH pressure settings after the initial set in the LOW pressure setting.
For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes For what? mobility, flexibility, recovery
KAATSU users often ask how KAATSU can be safely used as part of their rehabilitation of a broken limb, especially when the injured arm or leg must be keep immobilized as it heals.
Similar to what Olympic silver medalist Todd Lodwick accomplished in the 28 days prior to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games when he came back in an unprecedented time from a broken humerus and torn ligaments in his left arm, KAATSU users can perform KAATSU two or three per day if they primarily use the KAATSU Cycle mode on their other three healthy limbs. Surgeon Dr. Jim Stray-Gundersen, the then attending US Ski & Snowboard Association physician responsible for Lodwick's recovery said, "His recovery was unheard of with the incorporation of KAATSU."
The standard KAATSU 3-Point Exercises in the KAATSU Cycle mode can be used: Hand Clenches + Biceps Curls + Triceps Extensions on the arms plus Heel Raises + Leg Curls + Non-lock Partial Quarter Squats on the legs. KAATSU Walking or KAATSU Aqua Walking can be performed as one very effective alternative in the injury is in the arms. The KAATSU Cycles, ideally, should be performed in the mornings and then within one hour of bedtime.
The effects are best if the movement of the healthy limbs is slow and steady. Ideally, the muscles in movement should be contracted in both the positive and negative directions.
The reason why KAATSU on the healthy limbs is effective is because KAATSU has systemic effects all over the body, including in the injured limb - even if KAATSU is not done on that limb.
At the Indiana University School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Center for Translational Musculoskeletal Research and the University of Indianapolis Department of Kinesiology, Dr. Alan Mikesky and his research team researched the crossover effects of KAATSU [see Modified KAATSU Training: Adaptations and Subject Perceptionshere]. In his research, Professor Mikesky was looking to confirm the systemic effects of KAATSU.
The researchers applied KAATSU Air Bands on only one arm of subjects and tested the strength, girth, tomography scans along with RPE (Rated Perceived Exertion scale) of both arms of the subjects.
The research team correctly did KAATSU and measured both the Base SKU (which they called “Cuff Tightness Pressure in mm Hg"and Optimal SKU (which they called “Cuff Inflation Pressure in mm Hg”) levels.
It should be noted that the SKU levels were conservative for relatively young subjects. The subjects started at 10 Base SKU in Week 1 and increased to 30 Base SKU by Week 8; they started at 90 Base SKU in Week 1 and increased to 180 Base SKU by Week 8. Both the KAATSU arm and the non-KAATSU arm girth increased (measured in cm between Week 0 and Week 8):
Non-KAATSU Arm (cm) girth:
Week 0: 22.7 cm
Week 2: 24.3 cm
Week 4: 24.9 cm
Week 6: 25.7 cm
Week 8: 26.1 cm
KAATSU Arm (cm) girth:
Week 0: 23.0 cm
Week 2: 23.2 cm
Week 4: 24.5 cm
Week 6: 25.4 cm
Week 8: 26.1 cm
The research showed how doing KAATSU on one limb can have crossover (systemic) effects on the other limb - a very important goal for individuals with one injured limb who is trying to recover.
In the video above, this effect was practically demonstrated was with 2010 Olympic silver medalist Todd Lodwick who broke his left arm and torn his ligaments 28 days before the 2014 Winter Olympics. With KAATSU done on his non-injured limbs, he was able to compete admirably well in both the ski jumping and the Nordic combined events after only 5 weeks of KAATSU.
During his rehabilitation, the staff at the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association noted that Lodwick was getting too muscular after a few weeks of KAATSU - despite his broken bone and torn ligaments and doing no weights or traditional strength training exercises. In response, his SKU levels was reduced and he stretched more and did low-pressure, post-workout KAATSU Cycles so his muscle hypertrophy was not accelerated (see above). Personally, Lodwick liked the effects and ultimately was able to compete.
In summary, doing KAATSU on healthy limbs can have direct crossover benefits to the recovery, strength and girth of an injured limb or core.
Another previous study conducted in Japan is entitled Cross-Transfer Effects of Resistance Training with Blood Flow Restriction (see here).
Silver medalist Todd Lodwick is shown above doing similar KAATSU training after his skiing accident and was able to rehabilitate and recover quickly enough to compete in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.
For who? researchers, scientists, Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery
Research on the effects of KAATSU has been conducted with men and women of all ages, abilities and conditions. An interesting variety of research has also included equine subjects (i.e., horses), mice, rats, and goats from Japan to the United States.
Research has been conducted at the University of Tokyo Hospital and Osaka University in Japan, at Peking University and Jilin University in China, at the Harvard Medical School, University of Missouri, University of Oklahoma and Rutgers University in the United States, at the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in São Paulo, Brazil, and dozens other universities and academic research institutions.
The photos above show Chinese scientists attaching standard KAATSU Air Bands on the hind legs of goats in northern China under the auspices of China's State General Administration of Sports, the government agency responsible for sports in China that also administers the Chinese Olympic Committee.
Kenneth McKeever, Ph.D., FACSM serves as the Associate Director of Research and is a Professor of Animal Sciences at The Rutgers Equine Science Center. The Center is part of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and is dedicated to better horse care through research
and education to advance the well-being and performance of horses and the equine industry.
Since 1995, Professor McKeever has proceeded to build, develop, and coordinate one of the most active Equine Exercise Physiology laboratories in the USA. One of the most interesting studies that Professor McKeever conducted in collaboration with his colleagues Professors Abe, Kearns, Filho and Sato of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the Tokyo Metropolitan University and the Department of Ischemic Circulatory Physiology at The University of Tokyo in Japan.
The researchers delved into the efficacy of KAATSU that has been demonstrated in human athletes, both as a therapeutic method as well as a training aid. The purpose of their study was to investigate the effects of slow walk training combined with restriction of muscle blood flow (KAATSU) on muscle and tendon size.
They studied 6 healthy, unfit Standardbred mares performed walking (240 meters/minute for 10 minutes and then a 5-minute recovery) with KAATSU, and 6 mares performed walking without KAATSU. A specially designed elastic band (manufactured by KAATSU Japan using the original KAATSU Master device) was placed at the most proximal position of the forelegs and inflated to a pressure of 200-230 mmHg throughout the walking and recovery sessions. [Note: the KAATSU Air Bands were the same model and type that were used by humans and with the goats in China).
The training was conducted once a day, 6 days/week for 2 weeks. Skeletal muscle thickness and tendon thickness were measured using B-mode ultrasound at baseline and after 2 weeks of training. Venous blood samples were obtained before the first acute exercise and 5, 15 and 60 minutes afterwards. Serum somatotropin concentration was determined using a commercially available equine-specific ELISA kit.
The professors found that the acute increase in plasma somatotropin was 40% greater (P<0.05) in the KAATSU-walk group than in the Control-walk group 5 minutes after exercise and remained elevated (P<0.05) at 15 and 60 minutes post exercise compared with the Control-walk group. After 2 weeks of training, muscle thickness increased (P<0.05) 3.5% in the KAATSU-walk group, but did not change in the Control-walk group (0.7%). Tendon thickness did not change (P>0.05) in either group.
They concluded that these data demonstrate that KAATSU can induce muscle hypertrophy in horses and suggest that KAATSU may provide significant therapeutic/rehabilitative value in horses, as has been shown in man.
Dr. Ursprung utilized the KAATSU Nano device (a smaller, more portable equivalent of the KAATSU Master that Professor McKeever used) and the same KAATSU Air Bands that were used on the Standardbred mares in Rutgers.
Dr. Ursprung used the KAATSU Air Bands to safely maintain arterial inflow to the leg muscles while preventing venous outflow. He writes, "Blood flow restriction training with resistance has been shown to improve muscular power, sprinting speed, strength, hypertrophy and endurance. Non-resistance training methods using [KAATSU], such as walking, may increase strength and hypertrophy however the effects on aerobic capacity are less uncertain and the research in this area is limited.
Using 10 young, fit, well-trained male military personnel, Dr. Ursprung evaluated the effects of 3 weeks of [KAATSU Walking] on VO2max, 1.5-mile run times, and muscular size. He recorded the pre- and post-measurements of VO2max, 1.5-mile run times, and thigh muscle cross sectional area and found that KAATSU Walking resulted in significant improvements in VO2max (p=.034), significant decreases in 1.5-mile run time (p=.024) and significant increases in thigh muscle cross sectional area (p=.016).
So while Professor McKeever found that limited KAATSU Walking can induce muscle hypertrophy in horses and concluded that KAATSU may provide significant therapeutic/rehabilitative value in horses, Dr. Ursprung concluded that similarly limited KAATSU Walking can improve the aerobic capacity, endurance and muscular size at low training volumes and intensities among humans.
Joe Gomes is the Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC) high performance director responsible for the development of staff and systems that evaluates, educates and prepares elite athletes or warfighters to perform at their best when it matters most. 
