A sportswear garment comprising means for adjustably compressing at least one major vein in a user's limb such that blood flow through the at least one major vein is restricted.

A hypoxic training system is provided that dynamically adjusts the oxygen ratio in the gas provided to the user during a hypoxic training session based on the blood oxygen saturation (SPO.sup.2) level of the user. During a first training period, the hypoxic training system provides gas according to a first oxygen ratio. When it is determined that the SPO.sup.2 level of the user has reached a target SPO.sup.2 level, the hypoxic training system may provide a recovery period, during which gas according to a second oxygen ratio is provided to the user. When it is determined that the SPO.sup.2 level of the user has fallen more than a predetermined threshold below the target SPO.sup.2 level during the recovery period, the hypoxic training system may provide gas according to an increased first oxygen ratio during a subsequent training period.

A blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise strap. The strap is configured with a coupling at a first end of an elastic band. A second free end of the band is releasably retained in the coupling by a lever arm that is biased in a closed configuration against a plurality of teeth carried on an interior surface of the base. The band has graduated indicia carried thereon for determining a constriction level applied by the band to a limb of the user. The graduated indicia allow the user to set a desired level of constriction on each of a left limb and a right limb to provide the user to develop bilateral symmetry of targeted muscle groups of the limbs.

A BFRT cuff and portable electric pump system and a method for exercising using said cuff. The method incudes providing a BFRT cuff and a portable electric pump system, placing the BFRT cuff on a limb of a user, connecting the BFRT cuff to the portable electric pump system, selecting a pressure value or percent of limb occlusion pressure (LOP), causing the portable electric pump system to supply air to the BFRT cuff until the LOP of said limb is obtained, terminating air flow to the BFRT cuff and then reducing the pressure in the BFRT cuff, disconnecting the BFRT cuff from the portable electric pump system, and exercising the limb of the user while the BFRT cuff is at a selected pressure or a selected percent of LOP.

A method of determining a more suitable appropriate pressure for use in muscle strength enhancement methods involving the restriction of blood flow. The pressure of air in a gas bladder of a compression band is temporarily increased to a pressure higher than a presumed appropriate pressure and then gradually reduced. During this process, a pulse wave amplitude is measured, and a maximum pulse wave pressure, which is the pressure of the air in the gas bladder at a time when the pulse wave amplitude that is temporarily increased and then reduced has its maximum value is specified by a maximum pulse wave pressure specifying unit 12E. The unit 12E sends maximum pulse wave pressure data representing a maximum pulse wave pressure to an appropriate pressure calculating unit 12F. The unit 12F multiplies the maximum pulse wave pressure by a coefficient to obtain an appropriate pressure.

A physical training device for emulating oxygen condition at different altitudes during a physical activity is presented, the device being configured to be carried by a user and comprising a chamber through which the user breathes in and out, the chamber comprises a patterned airway configured to control parameters of air breathed in and out by the user.

A flow therapy apparatus can provide a hypoxic flow of gases to a user, for altitude training, athletic performance training, and other indications. The system can include an apparatus that can include a gas conduit, an ambient air inlet, and a hypoxic gas source inlet configured to connect to a hypoxic gas source and configured to create a hypoxic gas composition upon mixing of ambient air and the hypoxic gas. The system can also include a user interface, and a gas flow generation element configured to deliver the hypoxic gas composition to nares of the user at a predetermined flow rate of at least about 10 liters/minute. Methods are also disclosed.

An exercise with oxygen therapy (EWOT) apparatus for rejuvenating oxygen-depleted cell tissue and simulating high altitude oxygen conditions. The EWOT apparatus includes a first cylindrical bladder for providing oxygen-enriched air and a second bladder for providing lower-purity hypoxic air. The first bladder is retained within an open, lightweight rectangular-shaped frame having vertical frame members. An air supply source provides the oxygen-enriched and hypoxic air to the first and second bladders, respectively. A control switch, which can be manually and/or programmed to automatically operate, selectively delivers the oxygen-enriched and/or hypoxic air to a breathing mask worn by a user while exercising on exercise equipment. The first bladder includes a plurality of weights which provide a positive pressure to the air therein. The cylindrical first bladder is attached to the vertical frame members with slidable rings and expands and collapses in a vertical direction when being filled or during use, respectively.

A BFRT cuff and portable electric pump system and a method for exercising using said cuff. The method incudes providing a BFRT cuff and a portable electric pump system, placing the BFRT cuff on a limb of a user, connecting the BFRT cuff to the portable electric pump system, selecting a pressure value or percent of limb occlusion pressure (LOP), causing the portable electric pump system to supply air to the BFRT cuff until the LOP of said limb is obtained, terminating air flow to the BFRT cuff and then reducing the pressure in the BFRT cuff, disconnecting the BFRT cuff from the portable electric pump system, and exercising the limb of the user while the BFRT cuff is at a selected pressure or a selected percent of LOP.

Disclosed is a system and method for regulating tourniquet cuff pressure to restrict blood flow penetration past the cuff based on a personalized restrictive pressure (PRP). The system includes mechanisms for estimating a limb occlusion pressure (LOP) by determining a minimum pressure at which arterial blood penetration past an applied tourniquet cuff is stopped and measuring a pulsation characteristic associated with the LOP. Thereafter, the system establishes a PRP by determining a second pressure that restricts but does not stop arterial blood penetration past the cuff and that corresponds to a second pulsation characteristic differing by a percentage from the pulsation characteristic associated with the LOP. During a limb-activity time period, the system maintains pressure in the applied tourniquet cuff near the PRP, thereby restricting but not stopping arterial blood penetration past the cuff during the activity time period.