What is Pneumatic Compression?
Pneumatic compression is (most simply) compressive therapy generated by a device. Whereas compression socks, sleeves, or bandages deliver continuous compression where you wear them, pneumatic compression devices generate compression from a pump that precisely controls the amount of pressure and the intervals at which that pressure is delivered to the treatment area. Intermittent sequential pneumatic compression (often referred to as ISPC) means that there is a sequential rhythm of timing to the pressure.
This mechanical inflation and deflation mimics the body’s natural muscle pump action — or the physiological action that promotes blood flow and circulation back to the heart. Intermittent sequential pneumatic compression is a specific therapeutic form that has been used as a clinical treatment.
These pneumatic compression systems have been around since the 1950s, mainly to control swelling and then help prevent blood clots from forming in the legs of hospitalized patients. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the athletic community started to gain interest in using these tools for recovery benefits.
How Does Pneumatic Compression Work?
First, let’s go over the nuts and bolts of how pneumatic compression devices work.
These systems involve an air pump and inflatable garments (like sleeves, gloves, boots, cuffs, etc.) to be worn on your body. When activated, compressed air from the pump is delivered into the garment — inflating it and creating pressure or a slight squeezing sensation (similar to a blood pressure cuff).
And remember, pressure is delivered at a specific cadence in intermittent pneumatic compression therapy. So, the garments will inflate with pressure and then deflate and relax sequentially.
Now, this external pressure triggers an internal response from the body that promotes blood flow. That’s because the body is able to convert the mechanical energy from the pump into electrochemical energy that powers blood circulation to help move blood through the veins toward the heart. This is an essential step for moving waste products (and carbon dioxide) away from tissues.
As blood vessels in the extremities (like the arms and legs) are small and far from the heart, they are often the most impacted if circulation is impaired for any reason — meaning waste products can build-up. This build up of waste products can make limbs feel stiff and sore. So, in summary, pneumatic compression helps keep blood flowing and those waste products from building up.
Pneumatic compression and the lymphatic system
The lymphatic system is sometimes called the second circulatory system. It’s part of the immune system and helps the body transport immune cells, recycle important nutrients, and get rid of waste products.
But unlike the circulatory system that’s powered by the heart, the lymphatic system doesn’t have a dedicated pump to keep things flowing. Instead, lymphatic vessels rely on muscle contraction to move the lymph (or fluid containing immune cells).
Pneumatic compression actually helps create the compression needed to increase the filtering of waste products (from the blood) into the lymph and the subsequent pumping of the lymphatic system to get rid of these waste products.
The mechanics of pneumatic compression
A few important notes about the pressure settings of pneumatic compression devices to keep in mind:
- Intermittent pneumatic compression should deliver the most pressure furthest from the heart and less pressure in areas closer to the heart (the different chambers of the garment help deliver the correct pressure settings).
- This creates a gradient so blood and lymph flow in the right direction.
- The pressure should be tightly controlled in each chamber to ensure blood and lymph flow in the right direction.
- Devices should also be set to the optimal cycle of compression. The cycle is responsible for the increase in blood circulation. So the more cycles you complete in a setting with a pneumatic compression device, the more benefits you get.
