280: Using Blood Flow Restriction Training In Neuro With Chris McElderry, PT, DPT, NCS

Neuro rehab / neuro wellness… if you’re listening to this podcast chances are anything you’re doing is skilled! On today’s show you’re going to be inspired by Chris McElderry, PT, DPT, NCS as he shares his journey with host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS. Chris went into PT with a sports focus but quickly realized neuro was where it’s at. After completing his neuro residency and working full time in outpatient he was compelled to expand. He wanted to provide inspiration and ideas to other clinicians on social media and also grow his own wellness side gig.

Chris, also known as @theneuroguy_dpt founded The Neuro Guy LLC, a wellness and coaching company, in 2022. In this episode he talks about how he overcame hesitation and fear of doing neuro wellness outside of the insurance model and prioritized giving people what they needed to thrive. One of the treatment interventions he’s using is blood flow restriction (BFR) training for neurological populations.

Chris explains the mechanism behind BFR training, a technique that uses specialized cuffs to partially restrict blood flow during low-intensity exercises. He describes the potential benefits for patients with conditions like stroke, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injuries, emphasizing its safety and effectiveness when properly implemented. He maintains that despite loads of research for BFR in the orthopedic population, it’s just emerging in neuro, and he’s ready for it to grow.  

If you want to learn more about BFR in neuro, join us inside NeuroSpark when we open again Sept 16, 2025! Chris will be presenting an educational webinar on the topic inside! Learn how to join at www.joinneurospark.com

Follow Chris at @theneuroguy_dpt