What is Air Pressure Therapy?

Barometric pressure therapy, also known as intermittent pneumatic compression therapy, uses an inflatable garment or sleeve that applies pulsating pressure to a specific part of the body. The garment is connected to an electrical pneumatic pump that rapidly inflates and deflates the garment to generate waves of pressure that help improve blood flow. The pressure pulses encourage blood cells and fluid to move through veins and arteries more efficiently.

How Does Air Pressure Therapy Work?

When the garment inflates, it gradually squeezes the underlying tissues to mimic the natural pulsation of blood flow. This helps prevent blood from pooling in the extremities. As the garment deflates, venous and arterial blood is encouraged to flow back to the heart for re-oxygenation. Repeated pressure pulses assist the pumping action of muscles to propel blood back to the heart against gravity.

The rapid inflation-deflation cycles provide intermittent pressure to aid circulation. Modern air pressure devices have programmable settings that allow controlling factors like pressure intensity, pulsation frequency and duration of treatment. Clinical studies have found that air pressure pumps blood flow by 40-80% more than normal leg movements.

Conditions Treated with Barometric pressure therapy

Deep Vein Thrombosis: Air Pressure Therapy is commonly used to prevent blood clots in hospitalized patients at high-risk of deep vein thrombosis due to immobilization. Maintaining blood flow reduces stagnation and encourages proper circulation.

Lymphedema: Lymphedema occurs when excess fluid called lymph collects in tissues due to impaired lymph drainage. Air pressure helps propel excess fluid out of swollen limbs or other areas and stimulates lymph flow to better manage lymphedema.

Venous Insufficiency: Poor venous return of blood from legs can lead to spider and varicose veins. Air pressure assists the return of blood from legs while minimizing discomfort and fatigue.

Arterial Disorders: Peripheral artery diseases restrict blood flow to legs and feet causing pain and reduced healing. Air compression augments circulation in such conditions.

Post-Surgical Recovery: Swelling and stiffness after joint replacement, injury or certain bariatric procedures can delay rehabilitation. Air devices facilitate drainage of fluid from incision sites.

Types of Air Pressure Devices

Sleeves: Sleeve-like garments that cover arms, hands or legs are commonly used forDVT prevention and lymphedema management. They deliver lower pressures (~30-40 mmHg).

Boots: Air boots that enclose feet or calf areas provide higher pressure pulses (~40-50 mmHg) required to effectively treat venous issues.

Anti-Embolism Stockings: Medical gradient compression stockings come in prescription grades of 15-30 mmHg for daily or hospital use. They maintain steady lower pressures.

Sequential Pumps: Sophisticated pneumatic sequential pumps have multiple chambers that progressively inflate from feet to hips/thighs to stimulate venous return from lower extremities.

Table/Mattress Pads: Inflatable pads under bedridden patients keep pressure on vascular structures to maintain lower extremity blood flow.

Benefits of Barometric pressure therapy

- Reduces inflammation and swelling rapidly

- Prevents formation of blood clots and improves their resolution

- Manages fluid build-up from diseases like lymphedema

- Relieves discomfort of venous reflux disease, varicose veins and arterial issues

- Strengthens muscles and stimulates proper circulation

- Expedites healing after injuries, surgeries and medical procedures

- Helps regain joint range and mobility post conditions like orthopedic trauma

- Prevents complications like skin ulceration from poor vascular return

- Lowers risk of post-thrombotic syndrome secondary to DVT

- Complements exercise and compression garment use

- Provides non-invasive effective outcomes with few side effects

Thus, air pressure devices offer an excellent option either standalone or supplementing other care for various indications. Proper device selection, settings and long term compliance are important for optimal clinical outcomes and quality of life. Regular clinical reviews ensure patients derive full benefits from this non-invasive therapy method.

How is the Treatment Applied?

Air compression therapy is generally prescribed by doctors based on a patient's condition and treatment goals. The appropriate device type is selected by the clinician and training is provided for correct application technique and scheduling.

Typical protocols involve applying the garment or device below any wounds, and inflating it for 20-45 minutes 2-4 times daily or continuously overnight. Sequential pumps are programmed to sequentially inflate chambers from feet to thighs. Compression is then gradually released for improved emptying and continued as a home treatment.

Duration of therapy depends on the medical issue but usually averages 2-4 weeks for post-surgical recovery or DVT prevention. Lymphedema and venous disease may need long term self-management. Clinicians closely monitor patients and make adjustments to optimize outcomes. Proper fitting, hygiene and troubleshooting also ensures risk-free administration.

With regular diligent use as directed by healthcare professionals, air pressure devices enable safe, effective treatment of many vascular and post-procedural conditions from the comfort of home without extensive immobilization or special facilities. Combined with exercise and compression garment recommendations, they help manage numerous medical issues.

In conclusion, barometric pressure therapy has evolved as a versatile non-invasive option to aid circulation, manage fluid and prevent complications from restricted blood flow in both hospital and domestic settings. By applying precise pulsatile pressure to encourage proper hemodynamics, these devices complement conservative measures to treat important medical indications. With individualized protocols tailored by specialists, air compression successfully augments clinical management of diverse vascular disorders.

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