Article reviewed and approved by Dr. Ibtissama Boukas, physician specializing in family medicine
Non-invasive therapeutic technique, pressotherapy offers many benefits in terms of health and well-being. In addition to promoting relaxation in the body, it also supports immunity. Currently, it holds an important place in the treatment and maintenance of certain conditions related to venous and lymphatic system.
For all about pressotherapy, discover in this article its definition, its objectives, its benefits, its instructions as well as the prices and reimbursement options for the sessions.
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Contents
What is pressotherapy?
Pressotherapy is a mechanical massage technique that acts on blood and lymphatic circulation.
It uses a device that performs intermittent and sequential inflation of accessories that wrap around the parts of the body to be treated. She exercises a compression similar to the movements of a massage.
In practice, the pressotherapy replaces or supports the natural flow movement related to venous or lymphatic problems (or both at the same time).
Therapeutic indications of this pressure therapy
La pressotherapy is a painless, non-invasive treatment that uses air pressure to stimulate a massage to the senses distortion-proximal, that is, from the extremities towards the center of the body.
Le massage is actuated by a device which inflates in such a way peristaltic or sequential with sections of accessories (penguins, boots, or abdominal band) applied to the affected area.
Pressotherapy intervenes in various fields:
therapeutic;
aesthetic ;
athletic.
Pressotherapy and health
The therapeutic objectives of pressotherapy are to relieve swelling and pain in the legs, reduce inflammatory conditions of a non-infectious nature, reduce edema and other problems caused by venous insufficiency.
It is also used in situations affecting the lymphatic system (such as lymphedema) to promote lymph drainage from the periphery to the center of the body.
Pressotherapy and beauty
In the world of aesthetics, the pressotherapy intervenes to fight against cellulite and improve the oxygenation of the skin.
With a draining massage, she promotes the elimination of toxins and excess fat. It also reduces traumatic oedemas.
Always taking care of the skin, this technique restores its firmness and stimulates the regeneration of skin cells.
Pressotherapy in sports
La pressotherapy participate in the post-workout recovery. It helps eliminate metabolic waste that accumulates inside muscle tissue. This decreases the pain associated with trauma, prevents the onset of cramps and activates the healing process of injuries.
Here is a rather structured list of diseases and conditions associated with this unconventional therapy:
lymphedema;
hematoma;
post-mastectomy arm drainage;
recovery of muscle tone in immobilized or disabled patients (instead of massage);
treatment of hematoma after surgery;
limb paralysis;
postphlebitic syndrome;
venous insufficiency ;
post-thrombotic syndrome;
venous stasis;
anti-cellulite treatment in the initial phase;
heavy legs ;
passive compression in venous disease;
post-operative prophylaxis in vein thrombosis operations;
Lipedema: abnormal accumulation of fat.
The benefits of this practice
Pressotherapy offers several advantages in different areas:
Cellulite and skin tone
By increasing the supply of fresh blood and the oxygenation of the skin tissues, pressotherapy will have a significant effect on the elimination of cellulite and the improvement of the quality of the skin. The latter will become firmer and more toned.
Body slimming and reshaping
The improvement of the lymphatic and circulatory systems will lead to the rapid elimination of excess fluid, reducing the volume and the "puffiness" in the treated areas.
health and wellbeing
Un healthy and functioning lymphatic system will have a positive impact on the immune, digestive and nervous systems. Waste, toxins and pathogens are eliminated from the body faster and more efficiently. As a result, the various metabolic functions of the body will resume optimally.
fat dissolving
Far infrared acts on fat tissue and dissolves fat cells by heat radiation. At the same time, the phenomena of variable air pressure and decompression further accelerate fat burning. Once the blood circulation is well stimulated, the metabolism kicks into action.
The correct use of pressotherapy with professional medical devices also has several advantages that have been scientifically proven over the years.
At the biochemical level, endothelial cells release substances that promote antithrombotic, vessel dilating and pro-fibrinolytic action in the treated area.
The movement of fluids increases the speed of blood flow (venous and lymphatic) reducing the processes of stagnation and retention.
The increase in pore pressure reduces the lymphatic load, lymphatic flow increases visibly reducing edema.
Application: how to use pressotherapy?
During its practice, pressotherapy requires the wearing of specific accessories that suit the part of the body to be treated: sleeves for the arms, boots for the legs and a belt for the stomach and the hip. If necessary, it is possible to increase the circumference of the sleeves by connecting the extensions which can be purchased as an optional accessory.
Thanks to the double connectors, you will have the possibility of treating two limbs (upper or lower) and the abdomen at the same time.
Before starting the therapy, the practitioner will choose between two types of compression, determine the duration of the treatment, adjust the pressure with which the accessories will inflate and select the active connectors. Of course, all these adjustments will be made according to the pathology to be treated and the patient's state of health.
It is also possible to enjoy the benefits of pressotherapy at home by purchasing a device intended for the general public. I talk about it in detail a little further down in the article.
Types of compression
continuous mode
The cuff chambers inflate individually distro-proximal. When the next chamber begins to inflate, after a while the previous one begins to deflate and so on for all the chambers.
It's a compression peristaltic. It is particularly suitable for the limb cooling, both after training and at the end of a working day.
It reduces swelling caused by muscle microtrauma and water retention. It also warns venous ulcers, chronic venous insufficiency and other disorders of the circulatory system.
Sequential mode
The cuff chambers inflate individually distro-proximal. The difference is that the first remains inflated when moving to the next chamber. It's compression sequential. It is commonly used in the case of a lymphedema. It allows the reabsorption and exit of the liquid component of the edema within the lymphatic and venular pathways.
Rates and reimbursement
In an aesthetic centre, the duration of a pressotherapy session is approximately 30 or 35 minutes.
The total number of sessions can vary considerably depending on the type and severity of the disease. To give you an example, it takes between a minimum of 5 hours and more than 15 hours per cure in specific cases of lymphedema.
Le therapy cost varies from person to person. The price of a session is between 50 to 100 euros. Generally, the aesthetic center offers a advantageous package depending on the frequency of appointments.
In the event of medically proven lymphatic or venous involvement, reimbursement can take place in accordance with the tariff of the Social Security. Social Security reimburses the drainage lymphatique 60% of its reimbursement base set at €15,05. However, for the pressotherapy to aim aesthetic and relaxing, there is no refund option.
Enjoying pressotherapy at home
This therapy can also be practiced directly at home. In fact, some people may prefer directly obtain a pressotherapy device, for several reasons (price of the sessions, lack of time, constraints, etc.).
Using a device at home will be a little less qualitative than in a dedicated center where you can benefit from valuable advice and supervision by a professional. However such a device can bring you very similar benefits and prove more profitable if you intend to use it regularly. This device obviously does not in any way exempt from a prescription or medical treatment issued by a health professional.
The majority of these devices are designed for a massage on the lower part of your body (legs, calves, feet, etc.). The model in the photo includes a heating function at the knees and a car's battery performance 2 hours to use it wirelessly.
This device will be especially effective for relieving your heavy legs, relaxing you, in the sports recovery phase, etc. It will promote lymphatic drainage and stimulate blood circulation.
You will be able to get an effective pressotherapy device with a good quality/price ratio as well as a user guideby following this link.
If you have any doubts about the compatibility of this device with your physical condition, I advise you to seek advice from your doctor or health professional before use.
My name is Arotoky and I am studying human medicine. Web editor for more than 5 years, I currently focus on the theme of health and well-being. I have the strong conviction that with my valuable articles, I can help many people to relieve their ailments and feel better. My goal is to share my health knowledge with the general public through web writing.
