Compression therapy

Compression therapy involves the use of external pressure on the human body to treat venous and lymphatic diseases. Because liquids are able to swerve in the vascular system, the external pressure exerted on the body can have an obvious effect upon the tissues which are high in liquid content. In a medical sense, compression pressure is the resulting pressure on the enclosed tissue and embedded blood and lymphatic vessels. It can be generated by means of compression from outside (compression stocking, bandage, etc.), or from inside by the muscle which expands against the resistance of the compression. 

Compression pressure is normally stated as millimeters of a mercury colunrn (mmHg). The value of the compression pressure for elastic textile materials can be determined according to the Laplace law in the eqnation P = S/R, where P is the compression pressure, S is the tension of the textile (in Newton per centimeter of bandage width), and R is the radins of the enclosed extremity. This means that the smaller 

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An innovative research and development programme has been undertaken in the University of Bolton into the development of a smart single layer novel compression therapy system for the treatment of venous leg ulcers. The novel single layer... 

The results of pressure measurement under the tested compression bands, carried out with the use of the Textilpress test-device are presented in Table 2 and in Figure 6. The maximum and minimum pressure recommended in compressive therapy was marked in Figure 6, as Pmax =33.3 hPa and = 26.7 hPa respectively. 

DEVELOPMENT OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURES FOR SINGLE-LAYER COMPRESSION THERAPY... 

S Rajendran and S C Anand, Design and development of novel bandages for compression therapy , British J Nursing, 2003 111300-1307. 

EHC, Compression Therapy for Venous Leg Ulcers. University of York NHS Centre for Review and Dissemination , Effective Healthcare, 1997 3 1-12. 

The elastic properties of pressure garments are intrinsically related to a niunber of their mechanical properties and these relationships follow the well known Laplace s equations. Compression therapy is now a well established method in the management of a number of hedthcare conditions and it is basically related to blood flow vdiich in turn is related to a number of variables of the pressure garment. 

It should be stated that venous leg ulcers are chronic and there is no medication or surgery to cure the disease other than the compression therapy. A sustained graduated compression mainly enhances the flow of blood back to the heart, improves the functioning of valves and calf muscle pumps, reduces oedema, and prevents the swelling of veins. Mostly elderly people are prone to develop DVT, varicose veins, and venous leg ulcers. Venous leg ulcers are the most frequently occurring type of chronic wound, accounting for 80-90% of all lower extremity ulceration. 

It has been established that compression therapy making use of compression bandages is an efficient treatment for healing various leg ulcers, despite surgical strategies, electromagnetic therapy, and intermittent pneumatic compression. Venous leg ulcers are the most common type of ulcers and their prevalence increases with age. They are chronic and are caused due to poor venous return from the calf to the heart. 

Partsch, H. (1991) Compression therapy of the legs a review. 7 Dermatol Surg OncoZ, 17,10,799-805. 

Hampton, L. (1997) Venous leg ulcers short stretch bandages for compression therapy. Br J Nurs, 6,17,990-998. 

Rajendran, S. and Anand, S.C. (2002) Development of Novel Bandages for Compression Therapy, Wounds UK, Harrogate, 19-20 November 2002. Rajendran, S. and Anand, S.C. (2003) Evaluation of Novel Bandages for Compression Therapy, Wounds UK, Harrogate, 11-12 November 2003. 

Cullum, N., Fletcher, A., Semiyen, A. and Sheldon, T.A. (1997) Compression therapy for venous leg ulcers, Qual Health Care December, 6,4,226-231. Nelson, E.A., Prescott, R.J., Harper, D.R, Gibson, B., Brown, D. and Ruckley, C.V. (2007) A factorial, randomized trial of pentoxifylline or placebo, four-layer or single-layer compression, and knitted viscose or hydrocolloid dressings for venous ulcers. J Vase Surg, 45,134-41. 

Standard compression therapy for leg ulcers in chronic venous insufficiency has been compared with compression therapy plus Dafion in 150 patients. The addition of Dafion was associated with significantly more healed ulcers and significant improvement in the sensation of heavy legs no treatment-related adverse reactions were reported [IT]. 

Viewed from http //compression-therapy.absolutemedical.com/viewitems/gloves-and-gauntlets-20-30mmhg/jobst-ready-to-wear-gloves-20-30mnihg (on 10.10.14). 

With the advancement in medical and health care management, several methods including compression therapy, sclerotherapy, ablation, vein stripping, bypass surgery. 

Partsch H. Compression therapy for deep vein thrombosis. Vasa Eur J Vase Med 2014 43(5) 305-7. 

Reich-Schupke S, et al. Quality of life and patients view of compression therapy. Int Angiol 2009 28(5) 385-93. 

Vicaretti M. Compression therapy for venous disease. Aust Prescr 2010 33(6) 186—90. 

Hafner J, et al. Instruction of compression therapy by means of interface pressure measurement. Dermatol Surg 2000 26(5) 481—6. 

Zarchi K, Jemec GBE. Delivery of compression therapy for venous leg ulcers. Jama Dermatol 2014 150(7) 730-6. 

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