Press therapy

Press therapy is a particularly effective mechanical method in the treatment of lymphatic and / or venous edema. It consists of a series of chambers arranged parallel on the limb in a sequential manner and slightly overlapping each other to avoid any form of stagnation, and to ensure that the pressure gradient is maintained in a single direction; the effect of evacuation of liquids in fact occurs in a caudo-cranial direction.

The chambers are filled with air coming from a compressor which can be graduated for each compartment with a different intensity; they are inflated rapidly (2-3 seconds) sequentially, starting from the most caudal to the most cranial, repeating the sequence from the beginning each time it is completed. A chamber remains filled until the last chamber of the sequence is fully inflated for a cycle that has a total duration of about 30 seconds, then passive emptying of all the chambers occurs simultaneously when a sequence ends. The loco-regional compressive effect favors the reabsorption of the water component of the edema within the lymphatic and venular ducts.

Before applying press therapy, it is advisable to perform the preparation using manual lymphatic drainage.

The indications for press therapy treatment are mainly represented by lymphedema, flebedema and phlebolymphedema.

Indications in case of deficiency of the lymphatic system:

congenital forms

post-operative lymphedema

post-traumatic lymphedema

preparation for surgical or post-operative interventions

Indications in case of venous system deficiency:

For preventive purposes in the simple insufficiency of the femur-saphenous or femur-popliteal valve in the absence of clinical disorders

Overt venous insufficiency

For preventive and therapeutic purposes in case of limb muscle pump deficiency (prolonged muscle inactivity, long periods of hospitalization, post-fracture course …)