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What is Compression Therapy?
Compression therapy treatment refers to wearing specially made socks or stockings to support your veins and improve circulation in your legs. These socks or stockings are often worn first thing in the morning and removed at night. The compression they give helps prevent blood from collecting in leg veins throughout the day, thus improving general circulation and reducing leg edema.
Different Types of Compression
The most popular type of compression treatment are compression stockings
Wraps or bandages that compress the body are other typical alternatives
Other options are mechanical (pneumatic) compression devices such as a wearable compression boot, or a compressed air device for use at home or in a clinic.
Purposes of Compression Therapy
Compressing the muscles improves blood flow across the body at its most basic level, since blood does not pool in the body when it is compressed. Most people know that compression garments are frequently used to minimize or prevent edema, but compression therapy has several additional applications.
Athletic Performance
Compression has long been recognized and used by professional athletes, trainers and physical therapists. But today, even average individuals who participate in sports are beginning to include compression into their usual routines.
Blood Circulation During Long or Frequent Flights
On long flights, business travellers often encounter aches and pains which accompany impaired circulation. Flight passengers can wear compression garments to avoid this. These garments also aid in the prevention of blood clots and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can develop on lengthy flights.
Healthy Posture and Blood Flow During Pregnancy
Compression therapy is beneficial to pregnant women in the later months of their pregnancy. Back discomfort, poor posture, and impaired circulation in the legs are all common side effects of pregnancy. However, compression garments assist many of these women in improving their posture and blood flow.
Nurses, Teachers and Salespeople
Pregnant ladies and frequent flyers aren't the only ones who have trouble with circulation. Anyone who has worked at a job that required them to stand for long periods understands how difficult it can be to keep your legs healthy (and avoid swelling) after a long week. Compression socks are an excellent choice for anyone who spends a significant amount of time standing and walking.
Troublesome Veins
Visible veins are generally the result of poor circulation. The insides of your veins get twisted and bloated when blood pressure rises, and this makes it much more difficult for blood to return to the heart. Under the epidermis, these veins are frequently apparent.
If the pressure in your veins continues to rise, the resulting fluid can cause an open sore called a “venous ulcer”. Compression garments which enhance circulation can assist with these problems, even if no additional therapies are utilized.
Lymphedema Treatment
After cancer-related procedures involving one of the lymph nodes, patients may have swelling in an arm or leg and the head and neck region. The lymphatic fluid in this area of the body can no longer be drained. Compression garments and treatments are utilized to aid in the drainage and recovery of the afflicted region.
Benefits of Compression Therapy
As you can see, compression treatment is quite beneficial for various conditions and for people from many walks of life. In reality, it is very beneficial since it provides far more advantages than the ordinary individual anticipates.
Vein Appearance Is Reduced
Patients who employ compression treatment regularly, according to studies, can significantly reduce the appearance of visible veins. Compression releases pressure that has built up in the veins, enabling blood to flow more freely.
Aids in the Prevention and Reduction of Cellulite
Many women suffer from cellulite. Scientists are still attempting to figure out what causes it, although there are some signs that blood circulation is a factor. Compression treatment has been found in a few recent trials to diminish and prevent cellulite’s appearance successfully.
Relieves Pain
Pain is frequently relieved by compression. The blood is forced back toward your heart when clothing or equipment compress the muscles, reducing soreness and making your muscles feel lighter.
Improved Flexibility
By keeping the muscles warm, compression aids athletes and ordinary people alike. When your muscles are heated, they become more flexible and have a wider range of motion.
Recovery Time Is Reduced
When veins are squeezed, blood moves more quickly through your system, and lactic acid and other wastes which collect in tissues are transferred from the veins and back to the heart. Compression facilitates the more effective drainage of metabolic wastes which assists in the recovery process. This is true for recovering from a vigorous workout as well as recovering from some surgeries.
Increases Awareness of Your Body
According to one study, people who utilize compression treatments report feeling more in touch with their bodies. By applying pressure to the skin, compression therapies stimulate the receptors which interact with your brain and tell you where your legs, arms, hands, and feet are (and what they're doing).
For more information on compression therapy, visit Unity Spine and Health online or call us in London at (226) 223-2437 today.
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