Safety and screening before your first BFR session.
Blood Flow Restriction training is powerful — and it's only as safe as the clinician applying it. Here's exactly what we screen for, what we measure with the Delfi Personalized Tourniquet System, and the situations where BFR is not the right tool.
Five checks before any cuff goes on.
- Step 1
Detailed health history
We review medical history, surgeries, medications, family clotting history, and any cardiovascular or vascular conditions before BFR is ever considered.
- Step 2
Clinical examination
Resting heart rate and blood pressure, limb circumference, skin integrity at the cuff site, and a quick neurovascular check of the working limb.
- Step 3
Personalized limb occlusion pressure
The Delfi PTS automatically measures your individual limb occlusion pressure (LOP) and prescribes a percentage of that value — never a generic, one-size-fits-all setting.
- Step 4
Symptom monitoring during sets
We watch for unusual pain, numbness, tingling, dizziness, or skin color changes during every set and stop or adjust immediately if anything is off.
- Step 5
Progression with informed consent
Loads, pressures, and volumes only progress when your response is stable. You're given written and verbal education on what's normal versus what to report.
What actually happens during a Delfi PTS BFR session.
Tap any step to see what it looks and feels like in the room.
Cuff placed high on the limb. Pressure is set to a percentage of your personal LOP — not a fixed number.
Book your Delfi PTSevaluation
30-min screening · No commitment
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- You're seated and relaxed; the cuff is placed high on the limb.
- The Delfi PTS auto-inflates in small increments while reading your pulse signal at the limb.
- It stops the moment arterial flow is occluded — that number is your personal LOP for this limb, today.
- No guessing, no fixed pressure. Your LOP can change day-to-day, so we measure every session.
When BFR isn't the right tool.
Absolute
We do not perform BFR if any of these are present without written clearance from your physician.
- Active or recent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism
- Known clotting disorders or current use of anticoagulant therapy without clearance
- Severe peripheral arterial disease or vascular grafts in the working limb
- Sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait under high physiological stress
- Active malignancy in the limb being trained
- Open wounds, fractures, or acute infection at the cuff site
- Pregnancy (unless specifically cleared by your OB and physician)
Relative — proceed with caution
These don't automatically rule out BFR, but require extra screening, physician communication, or modified protocols.
- Uncontrolled hypertension or recent cardiac event
- History of varicose veins, lymphedema, or prior vascular surgery
- Diabetes with peripheral neuropathy or poor circulation
- Recent surgery near the cuff application site
- Severe obesity where accurate occlusion pressure cannot be measured
- Medications that affect bleeding, clotting, or blood pressure
Normal during a session.
- A snug pressure on the limb — firm, but not sharp or painful
- A deep muscle pump and burn during the final reps
- Short sets (often 30–15–15–15) with brief rest intervals
- Total BFR block usually 10–15 minutes
- Normal sensation returning within a minute of cuff release
Tell us immediately if you feel:
- Sharp, shooting, or radiating pain
- Numbness, tingling, or loss of strength that doesn't resolve quickly
- Skin that turns blue, mottled, or stays pale after cuff release
- Chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, or visual changes
- Any symptom that feels wrong — we'd rather stop and reassess
Book a screening evaluation.
We'll walk through your medical history, measure your limb occlusion pressure with the Delfi PTS, and confirm whether BFR is the right fit for your goals.
This page is educational and does not substitute for medical advice. Always disclose your full medical history and current medications before training.