Why some Olympians restrict their blood flow to train better
CNN
Olympians and athletes have used blood flow restriction training to grow their muscles and speed up recovery. But you don't have to be an athlete to do it -- here's what experts say you should know before you try it.
The origins of this practice go back to 1966, when -- while sitting on his heels during a Japanese temple ceremony -- Yoshiaki Sato noticed his calves felt tingly and pumped up. Sato wondered if his limited blood flow was the key to experiencing that sensation, said Steven Munatones, the CEO of KAATSU, an eponymous blood flow restriction product and education company. Munatones cofounded KAATSU Global -- which translates to "additional pressure" in English -- with Sato in 2014 after being mentored by him about the Kaatsu technique for 13 years in Japan. Seven years after that initial tingly feeling, Sato "experimented with different kinds of bands placed on different locations on his body -- from his head to his torso to his lower legs," Munatones said via email. "In 1973, he experienced a broken ankle and rehabilitated himself using KAATSU."More Related News
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