{{POV|date=August 2024}} {{short description|Physical exercise method based on blood flow moderation}}{{Infobox company | industry = Exercise equipment | founded = 1966 | website = {{URL|kaatsu.com}} }}
'''Kaatsu''' (Japanese: 加圧, often styled as '''KAATSU''' or '''K<small>A</small><sub>A</sub>T<small>SU</small>'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.par-golf.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/par_img/main/kaatsu/kaatsu_logo.jpg |format=JPG |title=Photographic image of Kaatsu Training Logo |website=Par-golf.co.jp |access-date=2016-12-03 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304074551/http://www.par-golf.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/par_img/main/kaatsu/kaatsu_logo.jpg |url-status=dead }}</ref>) is a patented exercise method developed by Dr. Yoshiaki Sato that is based on blood flow moderation exercise involving compression of the vasculature proximal to the exercising muscles by the Kaatsu Master device.
==Invention== In 1966 at the age of 18 while Yoshiaki Sato was attending a Buddhist ceremony in his native Japan, his legs went numb while sitting in the traditional Japanese posture on the floor.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Munatones |first=Steven |date=2016 |title=The Evolution of KAATSU |url=https://kaatsu.com/shared/magazines/4.%20KAATSU-Magazine-Volume-1-Issue-3.pdf |journal=KAATSU Magazine |volume=1 |issue=3 |pages=10 |via=KAATSU Global |archive-date=2023-06-24 |access-date=2023-01-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624083309/https://kaatsu.com/shared/magazines/4.%20KAATSU-Magazine-Volume-1-Issue-3.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Out of desperation, he began to massage his calves in an attempt to relieve the discomfort during the long ceremony. He realized that his blood circulation was blocked in his calves.<ref name=":2" /> The feeling was similar to "the pump" he experienced as a bodybuilder, referring to the swelling of one's muscles during a workout.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Eitel |first=Joseph |title=What Causes Your Muscles to Expand When You Work Out? |url=https://woman.thenest.com/causes-muscles-expand-work-out-6597.html |access-date=January 14, 2023 |website=The Nest}}</ref> This was when he conceived the original idea of blood flow moderation training.
In response, Sato opened the Sato Sports Plaza in 1973 (the Sato Sports Plaza), which he operated between 1973 and 1982, treating thousands of people of all ages, and with a variety of health conditions.<ref name=":2" />
The specialised equipment is patented and sold for use by certified instructors and others.
==Research== Kaatsu Training was named one of the collaborative projects of the University of Tokyo Hospital's 22nd Century Medical and Research Center. Sato also began to offer an ischemic circulatory physiology course at the University of Tokyo Hospital and conducted joint development work with the Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation.<ref name=":2" />
In 2014, Dr Sato established the Kaatsu Research Foundation.<ref name=":2" /> Research on KAATSU has also been conducted in the United States at Harvard Medical School and the University of Missouri, in Japan at the University of Tokyo Hospital and Osaka University, in China at Peking University and Jilin University, in Brazil at the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in São Paulo, and many other academic research institutions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Munatones |first=Steven |date=October 20, 2015 |title=KAATSU Research Activities |url=https://www.kaatsublog.com/2015/10/kaatsu-research-activities.html |access-date=January 14, 2023 |website=KAATSU Global Blog}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== Further reading == *{{cite journal |last = Abe |first = Takashi |author2 = Charles F. Kearns |author3 = Yoshiaki Sato |title = Muscle size and strength are increased following walk training with restricted venous blood flow from the leg muscle, KAATSU-walk training |journal = Journal of Applied Physiology |date = December 8, 2005 |volume = 100 |issue = 5 |pages = 1460–1466 |url = http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/01267.2005v1 |access-date = 2008-01-31 |doi = 10.1152/japplphysiol.01267.2005 |pmid = 16339340 |archive-date = 2008-06-19 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080619082422/http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/01267.2005v1 |url-status = dead |url-access= subscription }} *{{cite journal | last = Cook | first = Summer B. |author2=Clark, Brian C. |author3=Ploutz-Snyder, Lori L. | title = Effects of Exercise Load and Blood-Flow Restriction on Skeletal Muscle Function | journal = Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise | volume = 39 | issue =10 | pages = 1708–1713 | date = October 2007 | url = http://www.acsm-msse.org/pt/re/msse/abstract.00005768-200710000-00005.htm | doi = 10.1249/mss.0b013e31812383d6 | access-date = 2008-01-31 | pmid = 17909396| doi-access = free }}
==External links== *[http://www.kaatsu.com Official website] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20180303124853/http://www.kaatsu-global.com/kaatsu-equipment/ KAATSU equipment]
Category:Physical exercise Category:Japanese inventions Category:Exercise equipment companies Category:Exercise-related trademarks