Is intermittent pneumatic foot
and calf compression something new and different in the medical world of today?
It is becoming increasingly common in terms of
treating patients with circulation problems of the lower limbs. Impaired blood
circulation, particularly with respect to diabetes and heavy smoking has been
a serious, medical concern for many years.
Intermittent claudication of
the popliteal artery or peripheral vascular disease results in compromised
blood flow. Over the years, many patients have suffered the loss of lower limbs
because of it. The question becomes what is the best way to improve and
maintain circulation of the lower limbs. Note that continual circulation to the
lower limbs is vital in terms of a patient’s ability to walk and maintain
general mobility.
From an historical perspective,
“the concept of alternating
external limb compression for
ameliorating rest pain in patients with critical limb ischemia was introduced
in the mid-1930s”.
Research has continued and “in
the late 1970s, the delivery of pneumatic
compression to the foot and ankle was
reported to enhance perfusion in the skin and muscle of the leg…”
More recently, “intermittent
pneumatic compression (IPC) of the foot was
found to significantly improve the walking ability of patients with stable
intermittent arterial claudication and to increase their pressure indices…”
How does high-level pneumatic
compression work?
“High-level pneumatic compression
(120 mm Hg) of the foot empties
the plantar venous plexus and reduces the venous leg pressure, increasing the
arteriovenous pressure gradient. A significant enhancement of the arterial calf
inflow ensues…”
In other words, the circulation
to legs and feet improves with intermittent pneumatic foot and calf
compression when used as a method of treatment on a regular basis.
Are there other viable methods of
treatment?
“The effect of exercise
compared with placebo or usual care was inconclusive on mortality, amputation
and peak exercise calf blood flow due to limited data. Evidence was generally
limited for exercise compared with surgical intervention, angioplasty,
antiplatelet therapy, pentoxifylline, iloprost and pneumatic foot and calf
compression due to small numbers of trials and participants. Angioplasty may
produce greater improvements than exercise in the short term but this effect
may not be sustained.”
Alternative treatments are
available but difficult to prove. For example, “Ginkgo biloba is a vasoactive agent and is used to
treat intermittent claudication.”
Research continues with the
expectations of more positive results for intermittent pneumatic foot and calf
compression.
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