What to Know About Compression Therapy
They may seem like strange bedfellows, but World War I gun sights, car sunroofs, and compression therapy socks all have something in common. They were invented by the same man, Conrad Jobst. Ironically, it is perhaps the least glamorous of these inventions, but also the most useful for which he is most known.
Forms of Compression Therapy
While the socks Jobst invented may be the most familiar form of compression therapy, the term actually describes a number of devices used to create pressure on venous areas of the body where blood may pool. Compression socks are designed to create the greatest pressure near the ankles where blood pools with certain diseases or under certain circumstances, such as the atmospheric shifts and long sitting times of flying. The socks are graduated to create lesser pressures as they rise higher up the leg.
Compression socks can be used to treat lymphedema (swelling) in the legs, varicose veins, the prevention of thromboembolism in people who are immobile, leg swelling related to pregnancy, and to treat ulcers related to several of these conditions. Compression socks can be hard to put on, particularly for elderly or weakened patients, so there are devices available to assist the wearer in donning the socks, such as super grip gloves or wireframes that hold the sock open.
In cases where the patient is immobile or too weak to put on the sock, a compression boot may be more appropriate. Compression boots are either inflatable sleeves that can be slipped on the patient and then inflated to the appropriate pressure or a sleeve that can be tightened by means of velcro straps. There are even compression therapy machines that inflate accurately and that can massage the area on which they are applied.
Another form of compression therapy is the compression bandage, which is wrapped around an injured area to prevent swelling at the affected site and that can offer greater stability to damaged joints. Compression bandages are quite often used with sports-related sprains and tears. Athletes increasingly also use compression therapy as a preventative measure to reduce soreness, improve performance, and decrease the likelihood of blood clots. Some recent studies have suggested compression can be an effective part of an athletic regimen, but the mechanisms are unclear and more studies need to be done.
When Compression Therapy Isn’t Appropriate
In some situations, compression therapy may actually impede the needed flow of blood. In such cases, compression is contraindicated. Some conditions where compression is inappropriate are:
- Areas where there is a lack of sensation;
- Areas of severe neuropathy;
- Peripheral artery disease;
- Cellulitis;
- Severe open sores;
- Limbs where shape or size may prevent proper fit.
Consult a Doctor
The bottom line is that you should consult a physician about whether compression therapy is the appropriate treatment for you. A physician will be able to tell you the appropriate level of pressure to use (socks come in different levels of pressure), can accurately measure the limb for proper device fit, can show you the proper way to put them on, and can establish the right schedule for when to wear and when not to.
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Ivan Young is a writer for Happy Writers, Co. in partnership with AdvanceOnline, an online health, and safety training provider.