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.
For who? Competitive athletes, tactical athletes, physical therapists, chiropractorss For what? Rehabilitation, recovery
Athletes, military personnel, public safety officers, and weekend warriors occasionally experience torn or strained biceps. KAATSU the Original BFR can significantly and quickly help these types of injuries.
They feel a sudden burst of pain in the upper arm near the shoulder and sometimes hear a “popping” sound as the tendon tears. The injured individual also can experience weakness in their shoulder, a bruising on their upper arm, a significantly reduced inability to move or rotate their arm, a change in the appearance of the bicep (like it is "popped out"), or muscle spasms.
The KAATSU Cycle 2.0 is the easiest and most convenient equipment to use and help the muscle repair itself while experiencing no muscle atrophy or long-term loss of strength.
Before using the KAATSU Cycle 2.0, be well-hydrated before starting. Ideally, you should frequently sip small amounts of fluid 30 minutes before you start and have clear urine to be properly hydrated - as opposed to guzzling down water in large amounts just before starting.
Always follow the standard KAATSU protocols (i.e., always have good capillary refill within 2 – 3 seconds with no occlusion and no numbness).
The standard KAATSU guidelines are as follows:
* If the injured muscle, arm or shoulder hurts significantly, do not do KAATSU on the injured side; only do KAATSU on the other three limbs.
* If the injured side can withstand the pressure of KAATSU Arm Bands without pain, then apply KAATSU Air Bands only on the injured limb.
* Always start with - and only do = the KAATSU Cycle (i.e., 8 cycles of 30 seconds of increasing pressure + 5 seconds of no pressure on the KAATSU Cycle 2.0)
* Never continue KAATSU on the injured arm if there is any pain or numbness on that arm.
The standard recommended KAATSU protocol is as follows:
* Do 1-3 KAATSU sessions daily (e.g., morning, mid-afternoon and/or evening) - both on the arm and both legs.
* Do 3-6 KAATSU Cycles per session.
* On the KAATSU Cycle 2.0, start each KAATSU session with arm in the GROUP mode / LOW level. Either sit comfortably, stretch, or do rehabilitation movements (as recommended by your physical therapist) with the KAATSU Arm Band.
* Continue with the GROUP LOW level if appropriate on the second cycle. But increase the pressure - if possible - to the GROUP mode / MEDIUM level.
* Continue with the GROUP MEDIUM level if appropriate on the third cycle. But increase the pressure - if possible - in the GROUP mode / HIGH level.
* Continue with the GROUP HIGH level if appropriate on the fourth cycle. But increase the pressure - if possible - in the PRO mode / LOW level.
* Continue with the PRO LOW level if appropriate on the fifth cycle. But increase the pressure - if possible= in the PRO mode / MEDIUM level.
* Continue with the PRO MEDIUM level if appropriate on the sixth cycle. But increase the pressure - if possible= in the PRO mode / HIGH level.
* Always adjust the levels as appropriate for your own body.
* While you are doing the KAATSU Cycles, you can also do standard physical therapy exercises:
** Avoid overhead lifting or exercises while you are healing.
** Gently bring the palm of the hand on your injured side up toward your shoulder, bending your elbow as much as you can. Then straighten your elbow as far as you can. Repeat.
** Raise your injured arm out to your side and place the thumb side of your hand against a wall with your palm down. Keep your arm straight. Rotate your body in the opposite direction of your raised arm until you feel a stretch in your biceps. Hold and repeat.
** Stand and hold a water bottle in your hand. Bend your elbow and bring your hand with your palm up toward your shoulder. Hold and slowly straighten your arm and return to your starting position.
** Stand with your injured arm hanging down at your side. Keep your arm straight, bring your arm forward and move towards the ceiling. Hold and repeat.
* Repeat this same process with your legs. You can either sit comfortably, stretch, or walk (easily or vigorously) with the KAATSU Leg Bands while doing the KAATSU Cycles. KAATSU's effects are systemic so you will also benefit from KAATSU Walking or any KAATSU exercise on your lower body.
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.
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."
Romy Camargo enlisted in the United States Army in 1995 and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 3.
His life took a turn during combat in Afghanistan on September 16th 2008 when his detachment was viciously ambushed. During the ambush, Romy sustained a gunshot wound to the back of the neck. The gunshot wound paralyzed him from the neck down.
Medic Steve Hill was able to stabilize him while his Team ODA 7115 prepped the battlefield to be medically airlifted out of the area.*
After Romy arrived at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, he was operated on to stabilize his neck as his C3 vertebra had been shattered and was extracted. His breathing was tied to a respirator and he was paralyzed from the shoulders down. He transferred to the James A. Haley VA hospital in Tampa, Florida where he was an inpatient for 18 months.
Romy still lives in Tampa where he not only continues to rehabilitate with the latest equipment and protocols, including KAATSU to help restore his muscle tone and improve his vascular elasticity, but also serve as the Administrative Director at the Stay In Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center.
The KAATSU Air Bands are placed on his arms while he uses the physical therapy equipment at Stay In Step. His skin color turns pink with solid red tones due to an engorgement of blood in his forearms and upper arm - and his muscle tone improves.
A hero for sure; Romy’s major awards and decorations include:
* Legion of Merit
* Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
* Purple Heart
* Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
* Army Commendation Medal
* Joint Service Achievement Medal
* Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
* Afghanistan Campaign Medal
* Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab
* Combat Infantry Badge
* Master Parachutist Badge
* Special Operations Combat Divers Badge
* Special Operations Combat Divers Supervisors Badge
For who? swimmers, athletes For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery
KAATSU users focus on three primary areas.
KAATSU protocols differ slightly for each of these 3 areas:
1. Athletic Performance: to improve speed, stamina, strength, muscle size or change BMI.
2. Rehabilitation: use together with physical therapy for people with broken bones, torn ligaments, tendons, or muscles.
3. Recovery: used for jet lag, insomnia and recovery from vigorous workouts or intense competitions.
KAATSU Aqua can be used in multiple ways before, during and after a competitive aquatic competition (swim meet or water polo tournament):
Before the Competition
KAATSU Aqua and KAATSU Cycles are used in the off-season, pre-season, mid-season and championship season throughout the year. Prior to a championship competition, KAATSU Aqua and KAATSU Cycles are continued to be used during the taper phase in the days leading up to the competition and even during the actual competition.
While the total distance and cumulative intensity of hard pool and dryland training tapers off in the weeks and days before the competition, there are distinct benefits and advantages in continuing to use the KAATSU Aqua Bands.
Before and after each training session, KAATSU Aqua Bands can be used during stretching and to help prepare physiologically for their shortened taper workouts. 2-5 KAATSU Cycles before and after the workouts are recommended.
In the water, the KAATSU Aqua Bands are recommended for use while practicing starts, turns + breakouts as well as a few strong sprints.
En route to the Competition
KAATSU Cycles can be used on the (long) drive or flight to the competition. KAATSU Cycles on the arms - and especially on the legs - will help athletes (and coaches) relax on the night before the competition and during the morning of their races. The KAATSU Cycles can be done while simply sitting and relaxing or while doing easy stretching.
Preliminary Heats / Finals Usage
2-5 KAATSU Cycles on both the arms and the legs (done separately of course) can be done before getting in for warm-up or, preferably after the pool warm-up but before the first race.
In the case of 15-year-old competitive swimmer, Sean Doolittle, he performed the following KAATSU protocols during his championship meet in Florida:
* Traditional pool warm-up of 1500-2000 meters before each session
* 20 minutes before each race during the morning preliminary heats, he did 2 x KAATSU Cycles on his arms to warm-up using a Base SKU of 15 and an Optimal SKU of 150 (over a 7-minute period). He followed his KAATSU Arm Cycles with 2 x KAATSU Leg Cycles with a Base SKU of 20 and an Optimal SKU of 200 (over a 7-minute period) on the pool deck during his wait.
* After each preliminary race, he did a traditional easy swimming warm-down of ~600 meters.
* 15 minutes after his first race and warm-down and approximately 15 minutes before his second race of the day, he repeated the same KAATSU Cycle warm-up which also served as a warm-down from the previous race: 2 x KAATSU Arm Cycles with a Base SKU of 15 and an Optimal SKU of 150, followed by 2 x leg KAATSU Cycles with a Base SKU of 20 and an Optimal SKU of 200.
* He returned home and rested before the final events in the evening.
* For finals, he repeated the same KAATSU Cycle warm-up and warm-down protocols.
* Throughout the 4-day meet, he did several lifetime bests, dropping time in each of his races. His most significant performance was in the 200-meter butterfly which he swam his best time of 2:14.48, a decrease of almost 8 seconds from his previous lifetime best of 2:22.30.
Evening Usage
Even with a long warm-down after finals, he did 2-5 KAATSU Cycles on his arms and his legs (done separately) in the evening upon returning home. This use of evening KAATSU usage at one's home or in the hotel will help the athlete recover physiologically during a multi-day competition.
In the case of Sean, he came home at night and performed 3 x KAATSU Arm Cycles and 3 x KAATSU Leg Cycles while eating and watching TV.
Like many other athletes, his KAATSU Cycle pressures were higher in the evening session compared with his in-competition warm-up / warm-down KAATSU pressures: 3 x KAATSU Arm Cycles with a Base SKU of 18 and an Optimal SKU of 200 (over a 10-minute duration) followed by 3 x KAATSU L Cycles with a Base SKU of 25 and an Optimal SKU of 300 (over a 10-minute duration for 20 minutes total).
Similar Applications in Other Sports
These same protocols can be used before, during and after volleyball tournaments, tennis tournaments, basketball tournaments, football games, ice hockey games, water polo tournaments, ski competitions, track & fields meets, baseball games and workouts.
For who? researchers, Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery
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]. Dr. 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 United States, a well-known case where 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. His coaching staff noted that Lodwick was getting too muscular after a few weeks of KAATSU - despite his broken bone and torn ligaments. In response, his SKU levels was reduced and he stretched more and did low-pressure, post-workout KAATSU Cycle sets 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 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 Cycle sets 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? brain injury survivors, Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes For what? functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery
After a steady recovery over a 3-week period where she is enjoying improved sleep patterns, improved muscle tone, more relaxation, significantly greater movement and mobility, and improved wound recovery, Tina did 5 KAATSU Cycles on her arms (with an Optimal SKU of 100 + 120 + 140 + 160 + 180) on Day 17.
After her upper body workout, Tina did 5 KAATSU Cycles on her legs (with an Optimal SKU of 150 + 170 + 190 + 200 + 201) while her caregiver Yuri helped her do a variety of exercises:
1. Yuri lifts her knee while Tina pushes forward against resistance to work on her quadricep and hamstring.
2. Yuri grabs against Tina's back while Tina pushes back to work on her back and neck muscles. It is important to help Tina gain more muscle and control her neck when she is moved.
3. Yuri rotates her ankles that helps her feet and calves feel better.
For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes For what? mobility, flexibility, recovery
Danny Woodhead is one tough athlete. Small in stature for an NFL fullback, but huge in heart, the 33-year-old NFL running back has had his share of injuries including two separate torn ACLs experienced many years apart.
His first ACL surgery was in the early part of his professional career and he rehabilitated in the traditional manner. His latest ACL surgery occurred during early part of the 2016 season, but he returned to the field in unprecedented time. Steven Munatones recalls, "Danny started doing Progressive KAATSU Cycle sets on the KAATSU Master at his home, every day. This was in early October. I told him that by Thanksgiving in late November, he would be back. Both he and his wife didn't believe me at first, but when he sent a text with photos of his rehabbed leg before Thanksgiving, I could not help but smile."
His return was indeed quick - much quicker than expected under standard orthopedic protocols. He combined his physical therapy regimen with the standard KAATSU Cycle sets including doing a variety of isometic exercises during his rehabilitation from surgery. He sat on his couch at home watching NFL games during his recovery, simply and repeatedly contracting his thighs and hamstrings as the KAATSU Cycle mode was on. Three times per day: morning, afternoon and evening. The result was no muscle atrophy, a key benefit for a veteran player whose leg strength is off the charts.
Woodhead adhered to standard physical therapy, but also enhanced his recovery with the standard KAATSU rehabilitation:
* focusing on the KAATSU Cycle mode
* starting with low pressures and gradually building up to higher pressures
* combined physical therapy movements with the KAATSU Air Bands on
* doing conservative KAATSU Cycles within an hour of going to bed
* also combining isometric exercises while at home in the KAATSU Cycle mode
* gradually increasing the intensity and range of motion
* start with KAATSU Cycles on your arms, and then move to your legs
* you can also do KAATSU Cycles only on your injured leg (i.e., Single-limb KAATSU)
Fundamentally, KAATSU is separated into different protocols in each of the following 3 areas:
1. Athletic Performance
2. Rehabilitation
3. Recovery and Wellness
Athletic Performance: KAATSU is used in slightly different ways to improve speed, stamina, strength, muscle size or BMI.
Rehabilitation: KAATSU is used to enhance traditional physical therapy for people with broken bones, or torn ligaments, tendons, and muscles. These protocols are specific with different applications of pressure.
Recovery: KAATSU is also used for recovery from injuries and the effects of sedentary living.
KAATSU Arm Protocols
›› Even for post-ACL surgery recovery, start KAATSU Cycles on your arms first.
›› Do KAATSU Cycles starting at lower pressures and building up to higher pressures.
•• Your Base SKU can vary between 10 - 30 SKU depending on your age and physical condition (i.e., placing 1-2 fingers between your limb and the KAATSU Air Bands). In general, the younger and more fit you are, the higher your pressures. But everyone differs.
›› Stretch your arms or upper body, do isometric exercises, and/or do 3 sets of the KAATSU 3-Point Arm Exercises (i.e., 3 sets of Hand Clenches + 3 sets of Biceps Curls + 3 sets of Triceps Extensions) during the KAATSU Cycle mode.
•• Rest while there is the KAATSU Air Bands are deflated.
•• Move while the KAATSU Air Bands are inflated.
Specific Post-ACL Surgery Protocols
›› Do muscle contractions of your quadriceps and calves, stretch, and/or perform simple physical therapy movements (in combination with resistance bands or other equipment that is requested by therapist during the KAATSU Cycle.
•• Higher SKU levels are usually tolerable on your legs compared to your arms in most cases.
›› Do specific physical therapy movements, stretch, and/or the KAATSU 3-Point Leg Exercises:
Simple: 3 sets each of Toe Curls + Toe Raises + Sitting Heel Raises
Moderate (after the body begins to heal and such movements become possible): 3 sets each of Balancing on one leg + casual walking
Advanced (after the body begins to heal and such movements become possible): 3 sets each of Standing Heel Raises + Standing Leg Curls + Non-lock (partial extension) Quarter Squats
** Note: KAATSU Air Bands are waterproof and any kind of aqua-therapy movements can also be done in the water or on an AlterG treadmill. However, do not take the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 or KAATSU C3 or KAATSU B1 devices in the water.
How to Wear
›› Place the KAATSU Air Bands on your upper arms, above your biceps, and below your deltoids near your armpits. Your KAATSU Air Bands should be placed snugly so your finger cannot be easily slipped under the bands when it is against your skin.
›› The palms of your hands should start turning pink or even a redness right away. Your KAATSU Air Bands are on too tightly if the hands turn white, gray and blue or you feel numbness.
›› If the KAATSU Air Bands are on too tightly, your Capillary Refill Time (CRT) will be longer than 3 seconds. In this case, loosen the KAATSU Air Bands on your arms.
›› To check your CRT, firmly press your thumb into the palms of both hands and release. The temporary white spot on your palms should quickly fill back with blood and turn pink (or red). You can do this anywhere on your legs, but preferably on your quadriceps above your knee on your legs, when you are checking your CRT on your legs.
›› Place the deflated KAATSU Air Bands around the upper legs, right by your groin (i.e., under mens's briefs or a woman's swimsuit are worn).
›› Start with the appropriate KAATSU Cycle level depending on your age and physical condition (10 - 30 SKU).
General Guidelines
›› Do 3-4 sets of each exercise, stretch, and/or physical therapy exercises. Then, continue with the next 3 sets with a different exercise, stretche, or movement.
›› For rehabilitation and recovery, movements should be performed slowly, steadily and non-stop (e.g., do not lock knees on squats).
›› For athletic performance, movements should be performed at desired pace or speed in a game, set or match. This is called KAATSU Performance Training.
›› After 3-4 sets of a specific exercise, stretch or movement, then move onto another type of exercise, stretch or movement. Note: If you are working on your legs, do 3-4 sets on one leg and then 3-4 sets on the other leg.
›› Keep rest short between sets and between exercises. That is, rest 20 seconds maximum between sets of 3 or 60 seconds maximum between different exercises. Modify as necessary.
›› Select exercises, therapeutic movements or resistance loads that allow performance of a good number of repetitions (e.g., 30- 40 in the first set, 20-30 in the second set, fewer than 15 in the third set, fewer than 10 in the fourth set).
›› Reach maximum effort (or go to muscular failure or technical failure) within each set.
›› Always remain well hydrated before and during the entire KAATSU session.
›› Always start with standard KAATSU Cycel (i.e., 8 cycles of 30 seconds of pressure followed by 5 seconds of pressure off with sequentially
increasing pressure).
›› Always conduct movements with a good range of motion. However, if you feel any pain or uncomfortable sensation, restrict your range of motion so there is no pain or uncomfortableness. That is, never push your joints or limbs to the point of pain.
›› Always follow KAATSU protocols (i.e., have Capillary Refill Time within 3 seconds with no occlusion or lightheadedness, and no paleness or no numbness in limbs).
›› Immediately release and remove KAATSU Air Bands if there is any numbness or lightheadedness, or the skin color becomes pale or white. Lie down with the legs elevated if necessary.
›› First start KAATSU on your arms and then proceed to do KAATSU on your legs.
›› Never simultaneously put on or use the KAATSU Air Bands on your arms and legs.
›› Limit KAATSU to 15 minutes on your arms and 20 minutes on your legs.
›› Frequently check your CRT (i.e., Capillary Refill Time). Confirm that the color of your limbs remains either pink or beefy red.
›› Your veins may become distended (i.e., popping out) during KAATSU.
›› You may feel a slight tingling in your fingers or toes during KAATSU.
›› KAATSU should be implemented with the understanding of your physician.
For who? brain injury survivors, Baby Boomers, retirees, car accident victims For what? recovery
Photos above show car wreckage and Tina's x-ray of during swallow test.
Tina is a 47-year-old car accident survivor with traumatic brain injury (3 on the Glasgow Coma Scale) who has been quadriplegic for over 12 years.
After several weeks of KAATSU Cycles performed daily on her arms and legs, Tina, her family and her caregivers say the following:
1. Tina has eliminated her hyperbaric chamber dives.
2. Tina has eliminated her home visit physical therapy sessions.
3. Tina has rapidly improved her wound healing so the home health care nurse visits every other day, not every day like before.
4. She sleeps 8 hours through the night instead of waking up hourly as she always had to benefit her and her 24/7 care givers.
5. She feels warm now throughout the day. Previously she always felt cold.
6. Her spasmodic episodes are significantly reduced and her pain and discomfort levels are reduced.
7. She can do KAATSU full body pandiculations (stretches). This has enabled her body to begin less stiff and more flexible and easier to carry and move. This greatly benefits her 24/7 care givers and helps reduce the pain they feel in their own backs and shoulders.
8. She can move her feet and stretch her legs.
9. She can move her arms and is working towards feeding herself and using an icing bag to decorate cakes (her previous profession).
10. She looks forward to sharing her story with others in similar situations.
Day 0 on May 21st in Long Beach, California
Linda learned about KAATSU after watching Tap Nixon, a 74-year-old man, improve with KAATSU Cycle. For the past 12 years Delmar has been on the side of her younger sister, Tina, in the hospital, care facilities and finally home. A hit-and-run accident left Tina a quadriplegic when she was 35 years old [see wreck above].
Tina, a 47-year-old cake designer and decorator, survived a car accident in 2006 [3 on the Glasgow Coma Scale]. Linda explained that Tina experienced “internal decapitation” (medically known as an atlanto-occipital dislocation; atlas is the name of the topmost vertebral bone of the spine; the occipital bone forms the lower part of the back of the skull).
During the first six years after the accident, Tina lived in care facilities and breathed through a ventilator and tracheostomy tube. For the past six years, she has lived at home with Linda with 24/7 caregivers and therapists at her side 365 days a year.
Tina is mentally alert, very attentive, laughs, smiles, acknowledges conversations around her with expressive eyes. She speaks very softly.
After a KAATSU demonstration by the KAATSU Specialist, Linda became excited to try KAATSU Cycle on her own arms to see how it would feel on her sister. The KAATSU Specialist applied one KAATSU Air Band on her arms that quickly became pink with the resultant blood engorgement.
Linda started to move in an easy, rhythmic manner as she is a hula dancer. After a few minutes, Linda stated that she was feeling the burn and started sweating as if she was working out harder than she was. Tina listened intently to the explanation and carefully observed the demonstration.
The KAATSU Specialist asked Tina if she wanted to try. She said yes with a sparkle in her eye. Linda was asked if she could put the bands on Tina, but Tina said, “No...you” with her eyes focused on the KAATSU Specialist. The KAATSU Specialist placed a pink band on her right arm, her good arm that was less spastic than her left arm. Both hands remained in the clenched position and angled towards her torso.
The pink band was placed with a very, very light Base SKU (under 10 SKU). Tina confirmed that she felt comfortable with the band on her upper arm. Tina had previously mentioned that she wanted improved muscle tone.
The KAATSU Cycle mode was selected and an Optimal SKU pressure of 100 was selected (on the scale of 0-400 SKU on the KAATSU Nano device). Within seconds of the air being compressed into the pink band, Tina's skin tone almost immediately became a light pink color, obviously a shade darker than her normal skin tone. Her eyes glistened as she concurrently focused on the additional pressure she felt on her arms.
She proceeded to 3 KAATSU Cycles (3 minutes 20 seconds per Cycle): the first at 100 SKU, the second at 120 SKU, the third at 140 SKU as she verbally confirmed her consent.
The band was then removed after the 10 minutes of KAATSU.
The KAATSU Specialist asked her to try and move her hand. She was able to ever so slightly move her right hand. Linda and Yuri, her caregiver, appeared to be pleasantly surprised.
She was asked to attempt moving her right hand again. She moved her hand again with a slightly greater range of motion on the second attempt, but these movements clearly required significant effort and concentration on her part.
Linda took videos of the session as Tina and the KAATSU Specialist were focused and constantly sharing feedback about the sensations she felt, the resultant movements and skin color. It would have a great opportunity to place a Masimo MightySat Finger Pulse Oximeter on her finger to check her physiological data on the next-generation KAATSU Master 2.0, but her hands were constantly clenched in a spastic paralysis.
Then Tina said, “I feel warm” as her arm remained a slightly pink color.
The session ended as Tina agreed to meet the following day.
The KAATSU Specialist Steven Munatones remarked on what he just observed, "I felt all the years of listening and learning from [KAATSU inventor] Dr. Sato were all worth the effort - even for this one spectacular moment in a bedroom in Long Beach, California with a car accident and Traumatic Brain Injury survivor, her sister and her caregiver."
Day 2 on May 23rd in Long Beach, California
Yuri, the caregiver, said Tina slept very well - and snored loudly - after the KAATSU session on the previous day. This morning, she did not feel sore and felt good. Tina was excited and at considerable ease on the second day.
Caregiver Yuri placed two pink KAATSU Air Bands on her left and right arms. Tina agreed as the goal is to get the entire network of family members, therapists and caregivers certified as KAATSU Specialists so they are very confident and competent in applying and doing KAATSU by themselves.
Tina did 4 KAATSU Cycles at increasing Optimal SKU levels on both arms, starting at 100 SKU (i.e., 100 SKU on the first Cycle, 110 SKU on the second Cycle, 120 on the third Cycle, 140 SKU on the fourth Cycle). Her Base SKU was still low (i.e., under 10 SKU).
By the second KAATSU Cycle, both her arms had achieved a pink color, including around the scar tissue that is around a very long scar on her upper arm. Linda said, “I have never seen her scar get pink."
On the third KAATSU Cycle, Tina independently tried to move her hands. She concentrated deeply, squinted her eyes, and moved both hands at approximately 45°. Everyone smiled. Then, without prompting, Tina started to move her left arm. She closed her eyes and with a furrowed brow, she held her breath. Unbelievably, she did a complete bicep curl.
Linda was shocked and said, “In 12 years I have never seen her move her left arm straight up and as far as that. If she tries to move her left arm it takes tremendous effort and I can see her “thinking” about trying to move it. Before this moment, she has had to essentially move her whole right side to get a little movement from the left. Her brain stem injury precludes her from moving without ‘thinking about it’ as we do.
Tina, do that again!”
Again, Tina closed her eyes and her entire body shook as she attempted to move her left arm again. She was literally willing her arm up again as she held her breath. When she completed her second arm curl, it was clear that she was physically spent. She gave it everything she could as her body seemed to sink into her bed.
She finished her upper body workout with one more KAATSU Cycle. Then the arm bands were removed.
Yuri took Tina’s right hand and easily opened her fingers. Yuri had tried to open her clenched hand on Day One, but Tina did not want to do it because it hurt.
With the success of opening her right hand, Yuri took Tina’s left hand and did the same. Linda said, “In the past five years, Tina has had almost 200 hyperbaric oxygen session which opened her left hand so it didn’t dig into her palm. Today her hand opened even further with less effort.”
Tina was beaming with pride - and exhaustion - as she smiled in a supine position on her bed.
The KAATSU Specialist was getting ready to go, but then Tina whispered softly, “Legs?”
Yuri put the KAATSU Air Bands on her right leg with a very low Base SKU. Her left leg has a bacteria infection and bandage so it was decided to only focus on her right leg. The KAATSU Cycle mode was changed to LEG with an Optimal SKU of 100. Tina proceeded to 3 KAATSU Cycles at that pressure.
After the third KAATSU Cycle on her right leg, the band was removed. This time, Linda asked Tina if she could move her legs. She turned her feet very slightly inward, perhaps 5-10°. “Wow!” was the collective expression as everyone smiled.
Linda joked that Tina was really going to snore loudly on her post-KAATSU nap.
Day 3 on May 24th in Long Beach, California
KAATSU Master Specialist David Tawil of New York visited Tina for her third consecutive KAATSU session.
But Tina just had experienced a total body spastic episode and was very uncomfortable. She also felt cold. Her caregiver had just finished giving her a massage, but it was clear that Tina was still in distress.
David asked her if she wanted to do KAATSU. "I would not have been surprised if she declined," Tawil said later. But Tina wanted to do KAATSU and proceeded to do 4 KAATSU Cycles at 100 SKU + 110 SKU + 120 SKU + 120 SKU pressure on both her arms. Without prompting, Tina suddenly did 10 consecutive biceps curls on her right arm as she moved her hands from near her waist upwards to her shoulders. She then focused on her weaker left arm and proceeded to do 6 consecutive biceps curls with her left arm in the supine position. Her improvement was remarkable the way she moved her arms and hands on her third KAATSU session of less than 15 minutes.
Tina clearly put in a tremendous effort into each of these movements of her left and right arms.
Tina then expressed an interest to eat for herself and then attempted to open her left hand by herself. She was not able to do anything but move very slightly one finger, but her attempt was admirable.
A pink KAATSU Air Band was then placed on her right leg and 2 KAATSU Cycles were performed (20 seconds of applied pressure followed by 5 seconds of release repeated 16 times). She then proceeded to move her toes inward.
Day 4 on May 25th in Long Beach, California
Tina repeated her KAATSU session on both arms and her right leg...ready for the following week.
"Our goal is to teach the standard KAATSU protocols to Tina’s sister Linda, her caregivers, and therapists over the next week so they all can work with Tina according to their own time schedules and availability - and comfort of their own home," said Munatones. "The convenience of KAATSU - to be able to do anywhere at anytime - is compelling."
Day 5 on May 26th in Long Beach, California
Tina repeated her KAATSU session on both arms and her right leg.
Day 6 on May 28th in Long Beach, California
Tina repeated her KAATSU session on both arms and her right leg. She used the new KAATSU Aqua Bands on her arms with a Base pressure of 10 SKU. She did four KAATSU Cycles at 100 SKU, 110 SKU, 140 SKU and 150 SKU. She did some arm contractions and biceps curls on her right arm while she was propped up in her bed.
After her upper body workout was completed, Yuri placed a plastic fork in her right hand and she attempted to bring the utensil to her mouth. She got her hand holding the fork to approximately a 90° angle with considerable effort. She was also able to move her right shoulder for the first time.
Yuri then placed the plastic fork in her left hand and she attempted to bring the utensil to her mouth. She got her hand holding the fork to approximately 45° with considerable effort while her body shook withe effort. She also felt warm and started to perspire due to her effort.
Tina finished her workout with a standard KAATSU Air Band on her right leg with a Base pressure of 10 SKU. She did 4 KAATSU Cycles at 150 SKU, 160 SKU, 190 SKU, and 200 SKU. After the second and third Cycles, she asked for the pressure to be increased.
Day 7 on May 29th in Long Beach, California
Tina did 4 KAATSU Cycles on both her arms followed by 4 KAATSU Cycles on her right leg.
She used a Base SKU level of 10 on both her arms and leg with Optimal SKU levels of 100 + 120 +140 + 150 respectively on her arms and Optimal SKU levels of 150 + 160 +180 + 200 respectively on her legs.
After these Cycles, the bands were removed and a spoon was placed in both her right hand and then her left hand by Yuri. This is the exercise that she followed up with:
She ended the session by giving a fist pump to the KAATSU Specialist [see above].
Day 8 on May 30th in Long Beach, California
Tina did 4 KAATSU Cycles on both her arms followed by 4 KAATSU Cycles on her right leg.
She used a Base SKU level of 10 on both her arms and leg with Optimal SKU levels of 100 + 120 +140 + 150 respectively on her arms and Optimal SKU levels of 150 + 160 +180 + 200 respectively on her legs.
During these arm Cycles, a spoon was placed in her right hand and she attempted to raise the spoon to her mouth.
Then she followed up her upper body workout with elevated leg extensions with both legs in the supine position with the band on her right leg [see video below from Day 9]:
Day 9 on June 1st in Long Beach, California
Tina did 5 KAATSU Cycles on both her arms followed by 5 KAATSU Cycles on her right leg.
She used a Base SKU level of 10 on both her arms and leg with Optimal SKU levels of 100 + 120 +140 + 150 + 150 respectively on her arms and Optimal SKU levels of 150 + 160 +180 + 200 + 200 respectively on her legs.
During the last two arm Cycles, a spoon was placed in the professional cake decorator's right hand and she attempted to raise the spoon to her mouth.
Then she followed up her upper body workout with elevated leg extensions in the supine position with both legs:
She had a lower back pain before the KAATSU session started in which she felt relief after her KAATSU session was over.
Her sister and caregivers have been taught the standard KAATSU protocols and will conduct the KAATSU sessions by themselves over the weekend.
They will be given the opportunity to become certified KAATSU Specialists by taking the 100-question online certification examination.
Day 12 on June 1st in Long Beach, California
After doing 5 KAATSU Cycles between 100 - 170 SKU on her arms, Tina did calf and leg exercises and whole body pandiculation during KAATSU Cycles at a Base pressure of 10 SKU and Optimal pressure between 150-220 SKU on her legs. Her body continues to feel warm upon doing KAATSU Cycles.
Day 15 on June 4th in Long Beach, California
After doing 5 KAATSU Cycles between 100 - 170 SKU on her arms including biceps curls with a plastic spon, Tina did calf and leg exercises and whole body pandiculation during KAATSU Cycles at a Base pressure of 10 SKU and Optimal pressure between 150-220 SKU. Her body continues to feel warm upon doing KAATSU Cycles.
Day 16 on June 4th in Long Beach, California
Tina felt sore after her vigorous workout yesterday so we decided to go easy. Today was simply a recovery day using KAATSU Cycles without movement or exercises.
She simply did 5 KAATSU Cycles between 100 - 170 SKU on her arms without hand clenches or biceps curls with a plastic spoon and 5 KAATSU Cycles between 150-200 SKU on her legs without calf and leg exercises and whole body pandiculations. While Tina was doing the KAATSU Cycles, her caregiver Yuri explains the differences she has seen in her hands since starting KAATSU:
Day 17 on June 4th in Long Beach, California
After a recovery day on Day 16, Tina did 5 KAATSU Cycles on her arms (with an Optimal SKU of 100 + 120 + 140 + 160 + 180).
Then she did 5 KAATSU Cycles on her legs (with an Optimal SKU of 150 + 170 + 190 + 200 + 201) while her caregiver Yuri Ramirez helped her do a variety of exercises:
1. Yuri lifts her knee while Tina pushes forward against resistance to work on her quadricep and hamstring.
2. Yuri grabs against Tina's back while Tina pushes back to work on her back and neck muscles. It is important to help Tina gain more muscle and control her neck when she is moved.
3. Yuri rotates her ankles that helps her feet and calves feel better.
After a steady recovery over a 3-week period where she is enjoying improved sleep patterns, improved muscle tone, more relaxation, significantly greater movement and mobility, and improved wound recovery, Tina did 5 KAATSU Cycles on her arms (with an Optimal SKU of 100 + 120 + 140 + 160 + 180) on Day 17.
After her upper body workout, Tina did 5 KAATSU Cycles on her legs (with an Optimal SKU of 150 + 170 + 190 + 200 + 201) while her caregiver Yuri helped her do a variety of exercises:
1. Yuri lifts her knee while Tina pushes forward against resistance to work on her quadricep and hamstring.
2. Yuri grabs against Tina's back while Tina pushes back to work on her back and neck muscles. It is important to help Tina gain more muscle and control her neck when she is moved.
3. Yuri rotates her ankles that helps her feet and calves feel better.
By Day 26, she was doing the following exercises:
July 1st in Long Beach, California
Tina was able to put an icing bag in her right hand, squeeze it, and plans to soon start decorating a cake for the first time in 12 years.
Dr. Yoshiaki Sato participated in a question-and-answer session on KAATSU usage with, by and for people with paralysis:
Q1. Why does a patient with paralysis become more relaxed and sleep better after doing KAATSU?
A1. The sympathetic nervous system has been activated for a long time. When KAATSU is performed, the sympathetic nervous system relaxes as the parasympathetic nervous system is stimulated and patients with paralysis are able to sleep well [after KAATSU]. Also, mechanical stress - which is a good stress - occurs and they can sleep comfortably.
Q2. What is the mechanism that enables an increased passive range of motion in her elbows, hands, and ankles?
A2. After the accident, joints became harden and spastic [for a long time, decades]. The tendons and ligaments become harden. Relaxed by KAATSU, because the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system are well activated, the joints and muscles become loosened. This increases its range of motion. There are tendons within the muscles, but they will not become soft soon. Over time, however, the tendons gradually softens over the course of many months.
Q3. The muscle and ligament contractures in their elbows, wrists, fingers and ankle plantar flexors are rigid. Can you predict how much a patient with paralysis can improve her range of motion?
A3. Patients with paralysis have been tense for a long time and their bodies became stiff as a result. It is very important to make concentrated efforts just like climbing stairs, step by step. They should not be impatient. Movement towards their goals might go in a good direction if they keep making steady effort.
Q4. Why do quadriplegic patients feel less pain?
A4. The pain is relieved because of the secretion of beta-endorphins, which is called intra-cerebral anesthesia in the brain. Also, the nerves of the muscle fibers that were in a sleeping state around the damaged muscle fibers are awakened by the application of KAATSU. Thus, the pain is relieved.
Q5. There are some red spots that showed up on a quadriplegic’s right thigh after the initial session. Was the Base SKU too high initially?
A5. You can judge that the patient's blood vessels are weak due to the appearance of red spots on the skin. Perhaps next time, when KAATSU is applied with the same SKU, these tiny red specks might disappear. Some people might say that KAATSU is dangerous because the red spots appeared or KAATSU might cause blood clots. The red spots indicates that stimulation was sufficiently given to blood vessels. It is important to start with KAATSU Cycle 1 (i.e., 100 SKU) for people who are trying KAATSU for the first time and gradually move on to KAATSU Cycle 2 (e.g., 120 SKU), Cycle 3 and on.
Q6. Should we worry about blood clots in immobile patients? Does the potential for existing clots change KAATSU protocols?
A6. The potential for kicking off blood clots will not change as long as you do the KAATSU Cycle. Start with pressurization for 30 seconds and depressurization for 5 seconds (i.e., KAATSU Cycle on and then off). Since the blood vessels gradually increase resistance against pressure and patient's blood vessels get used to SKU and can tolerate it. Do not worry about thrombosis.
Q7. If patients eat poorly, what should we worry about with KAATSU?
A7. Improving one’s diet in parallel with doing KAATSU is one kind of treatment. The three goals - exercise, good diet and sufficient sleep are important to become healthier. It is necessary to balance these three factors.
Q8. Do you recommend 2 full cycles, 2 times a day? What do you recommend for daily KAATSU usage?
A8. The daily usage of KAATSU varies according to patient's abilities and their level of physical fitness. In the case of patients where spasticity tends to easily occur, even if their body loosens after one KAATSU session, it is possible that they will return to their original state after a few minutes. Rather than deciding whether to do one or two KAATSU Cycles, the amount of KAATSU should be decided by the patient. Generally, the more serious the patient, the more times they should do the KAATSU Cycle. Conversely, for less serious patients, the less time should be spent doing KAATSU. That is, the number of times doing KAATSU Cycles should be decided on a case-by-case basis.
Q9. Why do patients with spinal cord injuries feel warm during KAATSU - especially when they have no sensation in the same limb?
A9. The fact that their body feels warm after KAATSU is evidence that new blood vessels were created. Normally, there is no medical treatment to create new blood vessels instantly, but KAATSU instantly creates new capillaries. Blood flows to those points in the body and their body warms up. Conversely, when the body is exposed to below the freezing temperatures, capillaries are pulled away and the body becomes cold.
Q10. Why does KAATSU appear to help with neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury patients?
A10. For not only the patients with spinal injuries, but also the patients with various diseases, when they do KAATSU, cells and muscle fibers that have not been used until now start to work. Consider the case if there are 100 soldiers, but only 10 of them have been working. When those 10 soldiers are injured, the 90 other soldiers will start working on behalf of those 10 people.
Q11. The Masimo device measures Perfusion Index (an indication of the pulse strength at the sensor site). The Perfusion Index values range from 0.02% for very weak pulse to 20% for extremely strong pulse. Normally, the Perfusion Index decreases during KAATSU, but why does the Perfusion Index often increase during KAATSU for a client with a spinal cord injury?
A11. KAATSU immediately creates new blood vessels and the blood fills the place where no blood was flowing until then. Naturally, the perfusion index will increase in this case.
Q12. For spinal cord injury patients, Capillary Refill Time is often very slow with no KAATSU pressure, and speeds up during KAATSU. Why?
A12. Since the blood flow reaches every corner [in the limb], Capillary Refill Time is accelerated. New blood vessels are increased. When you do KAATSU, VEGF (Vascular endothelial growth factor) new blood vessel growth factor hormone increases. KAATSU effects have continued to surprise me.
Q13. If neural pathways are NOT intact (for example, with a completely severed spinal cord) for an individual with a spinal cord injury, why does the client still feel pain? Why does KAATSU appear to decrease that pain?
A13. Blood vessels are not connected, but new blood vessels are born. It is the same as bypassing a road. Rather than repairing broken roads, roads are made new. When new blood vessels are formed, nerve cells comes after, and nerves are completed. As new blood vessels are formed, neural cells are formed. In a previous KAATSU trial, we put a patient’s head in a Functional MRI machine as we applied KAATSU to both arms while doing Hand Clenches with a grip band. New blood vessels increased in the portion of the brain that was black. Naturally, neurons are formed after. Since KAATSU works, I would like doctors and researchers at the VA to conduct further clinical trials.
Q14. Many military therapists use electrical muscle stimulation on spinal cord injury patients. Can this Electrical Muscle Stimulation device be combined with KAATSU to achieve better results during the isometric contractions?
A14. There are various devices such as electric stimulation units and EMS available now. When electric stimulation is given, the muscles shake. There are several research results that cause muscle hypertrophy to some extent. We get requests from researchers who specialize in electrical stimulation to simultaneously use KAATSU and electrical stimulation. We performed clinical trials on patients with spinal injury who could not move their legs. It showed positive results with KAATSU.
For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery
When young athletes or older individuals sprain their ankle, whether they are a high school varsity player or an aging Baby Boomer, an NBA athlete or a military veteran, the standard KAATSU Ankle Sprain protocol is as follows:
1. Do KAATSU Cycle twice a day (e.g., mid-morning and late afternoon) on the injured leg for optimal (fastest) results.
2. Start off with the first KAATSU Cycle (running a total of 3 minutes 20 seconds) at a low (conservative) Base SKU and Optimal SKU pressures (e.g., 20 SKU and 200 SKU respectively on the KAATSU Nano*).
3. Continue with a second KAATSU Cycle at a higher Base SKU** and higher Optimal SKU (e.g., 25 SKU and 250 SKU).
4. Continue with a third KAATSU Cycle at a higher Optimal SKU (e.g., 300 SKU).
5. Continue with a fourth KAATSU Cycle at a higher Optimal SKU (e.g., 350 SKU) if the individual remains comfortable and the Capillary Refill Time (CRT) remains under 3 seconds.
6. Continue with a fifth KAATSU Cycle at a higher Optimal SKU (e.g., 400 SKU) if the individual remains comfortable and the CRT remains under 3 seconds.
7. Finish off the KAATSU session by doing the KAATSU Cycle also on the other three healthy limbs, if time permits.
8. As the individual improves and recovers, continue the KAATSU Cycle on a weekly basis for maintenance and other benefits.
Additional recommendations:
1. The individual should be well-hydrated before and during KAATSU for maximum benefit.
2. The individual should sit comfortably while doing the KAATSU Cycle. Alternatively, they can repeatedly contract and relax their quadriceps during the KAATSU Cycle on the 2nd - 5th KAATSU Cycles.
3. Frequently check their CRT as the Optimal SKU increases on the 2nd to 5th KAATSU Cycles by firmly pressing a thumb in their quadriceps above the patella (or down by the ankles if they are wearing longer pants).
4. The goal is to first warm-up the small capillaries in the lower leg with the lower Base SKU and lower Optimal SKU levels and then engorge the capillaries in the leg with blood (“pooling”) with increasingly higher pressures while doing slight movement.**
5. KAATSU can be done in combination with any other physical therapy treatments.
6. Ideally, the KAATSU Air Band should first be placed only on the injured limb. Then the individual can continue KAATSU on both legs and also subsequently on their arms (e.g., by doing the KAATSU 3-Point Exercises***).
* If you use the KAATSU Master, these same pressure levels would be a Base SKU of 40 and an Optimal SKU of 200. This is because the air compressors are larger on the KAATSU Master. Of course, use lower pressures as dictated by the individual’s physiological responses and conditions.
** When you change the Base SKU from a lower pressure to a higher pressure, you must manually re-adjust the KAATSU Air Bands on the limb.
*** The KAATSU 3-Point Exercises on the arms include a set of Hand Clenches + a set of Biceps Curls + a set of Triceps Extensions. The KAATSU 3-Point Exercises on the legs include a set of Heel Raises + a set of Leg Curls + a set of Non-lock Quarter Squats (note: in the case of non-ankle sprains).
* On the KAATSU Cycle 2.0, start each KAATSU session with arm in the GROUP mode / LOW level. Either sit comfortably, stretch, or do rehabilitation movements (as recommended by your physical therapist) with the KAATSU Arm Band.
