The Science of KAATSU
How it Works
Here is a small representative portion of KAATSU's published research.
| -Effects of low-intensity -KAATSU- resistance exercise on hemodynamic and growth responses 成長ホルモンの論文1 | View |
| -Muscle size and arterial stiffness after blood flow-restricted low-intensity resistance training in older adults | View |
| 1. KAATSU Training Perspectives | View |
| 22nd Century Medical Center KAATSU Course copy | View |
| Acute Effects of Resistance Exercise w- Continuous and Intermittent Blood Flow Restriction on Hemodynamic Measurements and Perceived Exertion | View |
| BFR-training improves oxygen transport and utilization | View |
| BFR_KAATSU_Flight Dysrhythmia | View |
| Cardiovascular and metabolic responses to walking with and without leg blood flow restriction | View |
| Cross-Transfer Effects of Resistance Training with Blood Flow Restriction | View |
| Effect of 42 week walk training with blood flow reduction on muscle size and strength in the elderly | View |
| Effect of knee extension exercise with KAATSU on forehead cutaneous blood flow in healthy young and middle-aged women | View |
| Effects of KAATSU on muscular function during isometric exercise | View |
| Effects of KAATSU training on haemostasis in healthy subjects | View |
| Effects of low-intensity KAATSU resistance training on skeletal muscle size-strength and endurance capacity in patients with ischemic heart disease | View |
| Effects of Low-Intensity Walk Training With Restricted Leg Blood Flow on Muscle Strength and Aerobic Capacity in Older Adults | View |
| Effects of resistance exercise combined with moderate vascular occlusion on muscular function in humans | View |
| Hemodynamic and hormonal responses to a short-term low-intensity resistance exercise with the reduction of muscle blood flow | View |
| KAATSU Training - Application to Metabolic Syndrome (English) | View |
| Muscle activation during low-intensity muscle contractions with varying levels of external limb compression | View |
| Muscle size and strength are increased following walk training with restricted venous blood flow from the leg muscle, Kaatsu-walk training | View |
| Rapid increase in plasma growth hormone after low-intensity resistance exercise with vascular occlusion | View |
| Repetitive restriction of muscle blood flow enhances mTOR signaling pathways in a rat model in the Heart and Vessels Journal (January 2016). | View |
| Skeletal muscle size and circulating IGF-1 are increased after two weeks of twice daily KAATSU resistance training | View |
| Thigh muscle size and vascular function after blood flow-restricted elastic band training in older women | View |
| Use and Safety of KAATSU - Results of a National Survey in Japan | View |
KAATSU Air Bands safely and gently modifies venous flow which is the blood circulation from your limbs to your torso. The temporary and additional blood circulation in your limbs leads to subtle and profound changes in your homeostasis. Your vascular tissue increases its elasticity incrementally, leading to a secretion of a number of hormones and growth factors.
KAATSU is the catalyst for production of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), NO (nitric oxide), IGF-1 (insulin growth factor) and BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) as well as ceramides, plasmalogens, beta endorphins, and testosterone. Nitric oxide allows blood vessels to constrict and relax, and regulate the inflammatory cells in the blood vessel walls.
With movement and exercise, lactate builds in the muscle, causing the pituitary gland to secrete growth hormone. Growth hormone is secreted in large amounts - simulating vigorous exercise - activating your body's metabolism.
KAATSU Air Bands apply moderate compression in short durations on the upper arms and upper legs. The pneumatic bands are controlled by the KAATSU units to serve the opposite function of blood pressure cuffs or tourniquets (i.e., KAATSU temporarily keeps an incremental amount of blood in the limbs - not out of the limbs with a tourniquet).
This temporary and rhythmic compression leads to the safe engorgement of the limbs with blood that subsequently causes a cascade of natural and beneficial physiological reactions in the body.
KAATSU Air Bands are specifically designed and manufactured to not act as a blood pressure cuff or tourniquet - a unique and proprietary design in the BFR (Blood Flow Restriction) market.
The KAATSU Air Bands are elastic, stretchable, and monitored by the KAATSU algorithms that were tested and proven safe by Dr. Sato and cardiologists at the University of Tokyo Hospital among over 7,000 cardiac rehab patients during a 10-year study.
The width of the KAATSU Air Bands are much narrower than blood pressure cuffs and tourniquets. This is done to prevent arterial flow occlusion and to enable the ease of movement and motion of the limbs for walking, running, spinning, cycling, calisthenics, physical therapy, aqua therapy, swimming, throwing, kicking, pulling, pushing, or any specific athletic or fitness activities.
The air bladder inside the bands inflates uniformly and towards the limb, and is precisely controlled by KAATSU equipment and algorithms.
The bands can be immediately deflated by either pushing buttons on the monitoring units, depressing the valves on the connectors, or releasing the velcro on the bands.
There is good reason why KAATSU The Original BFR has been around for decades and is currently distributed in 49 countries: KAATSU is safe.
While other BFR companies stress muscle building and utilize all types and sizes of tourniquets and modified blood pressure cuffs on people with bulging muscles and youthful, fit bodies, KAATSU took a much different approach. As the pioneer of the BFR market, KAATSU had to clearly demonstrate safety above all - well before other BFR companies and products were sold online.
KAATSU spent 10 years behind closed doors (at the University of Tokyo Hospital) testing its original Blood Flow Restriction equipment and protocols with over 7,000 older cardiac rehab patients.
These patients were mostly over 50 years old - some as old as 104. They all had cardiac problems that needed to be addressed by the cardiologists at the University of Tokyo Hospital. Between 2004 and 2014, KAATSU spent its time, energy and budget on perfecting its protocols for older, more sedentary, weaker individuals - not the young and fit, not the muscular and active.
There was no overt marketing, ubiquitous social media campaigns, or slick websites. The KAATSU doctors simply conducted painstakingly detailed research and testing using ultrasound, MRI, and blood sampling and analyses on thousands of patients by medical doctors and PhD's.
Led by KAATSU inventor Dr. Yoshiaki Sato, cardiologist Dr. Toshiaki Nakajima, cardiologist Dr. Toshihiro Morita and their colleagues, KAATSU tested and fine-tuned their equipment and protocols. Ultimately, KAATSU and its original Blood Flow Restriction modalities and pressures were proven safe and effective - and convenient - for cardiac rehab patients.
After that decade-long testing was completed, the protocols and KAATSU Air Band pressures were standardized across the board so the proven protocols could be used at home, at work and during travel.
KAATSU equipment requires strict adherence to these easy-to-follow protocols that were developed with safety for all in mind.