Pressotherapy, lymphatic drainage effects are based on its action on support of circulation in two different systems. Blood system (arterial and venous system) and lymph flow system (lymphatic system).
As a result of this action, we can observe different medical effects:
- Enhancement of local arterial circulation supports local metabolism – brings nutrients, oxygenated blood. Subsequently this supports local tissue regeneration, tissue ingrowth.
- Enhancement of local venous circulation – removal of local edema caused by venous insufficiency or by static lower limbs position (Ischemic diseases or „heavy legs syndrome“)
- Stimulation of the lymphatic circulation – removal of the edema caused by lymph accumulation – in case of damage of the lymph vessels, nodes or in case of static position ( patients after surgery, immobilized patients, „Heavy legs syndrome“)
- Pain reduction – removal of the pain mediators and metabolites accumulated in edema may have positive effect on reducing of the pain. Also support of local regeneration will reduce the painful sensation in long term horizon.
- Mechanical stimulation of the muscles and tendons may partly reduce their tension, reduce muscle spasm and increase elasticity and flexibility of the fibrous tissues (=tendon, muscle, skin)
In different indications these biological mechanisms are used with different importance. We can define easily what type of system we will influence more by changing the procedure parameters. For example the pressures approximately up to 20-30 mmHg will almost exclusively influence the lymphatic system.
What are the prevalent mechanisms in most important indications?
Cellulite – supporting of the arterial and vein circulation – growth stimulation, removal of the waste products of the cell metabolism – by enhancing vein and lymph circulation, removal of edemas by enhancing vein and lymph circulation
Detoxification – removal of the waste products of the cell metabolism – by enhancing vein and lymph circulation.
Heavy legs syndrome – removal of edemas and metabolic waste products by by enhancing vein and lymph circulation caused by long-term static position
Regeneration, Reconvalescence – supporting of the arterial and vein circulation – growth stimulation, removal of the waste products of the cell metabolism – by enhancing vein and lymph circulation, removal of oedema by by enhancing vein and lymph circulation
Medical:
Acrocyanosis, Raynaud’s syndrome, Diabetic angiopathy, Ischemic disease of lower limbs – these are all disorders associated with disruption of the arterial blood flow. Lymphatic drainage can artificially stimulate the blood flow and decrease the symptoms.
Venous insufficiency – enhancing the venous blood flow
Arthrosis, Neuropathy, Neuralgia, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Gout – enhancing the arterial, venous and lymphatic blood flow supports local metabolism and reduces symptoms of these diseases like pain and muscle spasms.
Chronic edemas – can be caused by venous or lymphatic stasis – both can be mechanically removed by lymphatic drainage if natural body mechanisms do not work properly.
Oncology, Posttraumatic care – in patients after surgery the lymphatic pathways can be easily damaged (typically after breast ablation). As a result of this damage we can observe accumulation of the lymph and limb edemas. These edemas can be removed only by mechanical lymphatic drainage.
Lymphatic drainage is typically it is 3 step procedure:
- Each diagnose starts with special program for opening of the lymphatic nodes, it means only chamber on places where the lymphatic nodes are present are working ( typically knee and groin area, and elbow and armpit area respectively)
- After that, once the lymphatic nodes are opened, the path for the lymph flow is prepared. Then we can proceed to the next step of the procedure. This is subsequent activation each of the chambers one by one; starting from the periphery in direction to the trunk. The aim of this part is to move the lymph and venous blood from the periphery to the trunk.
- And at the end, the 3rd part of the pre-set indication is usually program for mechanical massage to make the patient more relaxed, relax muscle spasms and pain reduction.