What is pressotherapy?
Pressotherapy is one of the types of lymphatic drainage. Its essence is to massage the whole body with electrical impulses. During the procedure, a special suit is worn with sections for the arms, legs, waist, and hips. A computer program alternates the delivery of air pulses. The effect of pressotherapy is similar to a “squeezing” massage. Only it is not done by hand, but with the help of a machine. Alternating compression and vacuum, pulse frequency - from 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
During the procedure, the person assumes a horizontal position. The device uses air supply to the sections to create the sensation of muscle contractions. The computer doses the load on the body, changing the density and permeability of tissues.
Pressotherapy helps restore lymph flow. Reviews from doctors say that the procedure will help correct the figure, reduce excess weight, eliminate swelling, and normalize venous outflow.
Impact zones
It is important to remember that a doctor must prescribe the procedure, even for a completely healthy person. He will develop an individual treatment plan for you, select the most suitable programs and treatment areas. It could be:
- Complex body massage. It is used when the patient needs to lose excess weight, get rid of cellulite, improve blood circulation, and restore the body after severe injuries, operations or stroke. During the procedure, a one-piece suit is used, into which air is pulsed and then pumped out.
- Compression leg massage. It is the lower limbs, which experience enormous loads every day, that become the main target of pressotherapy. After all, the procedure not only effectively removes swelling, pain, heaviness, excess fat, cellulite, but also stops the development of such serious diseases as varicose veins, arthritis, arthrosis. During the session, the patient wears special high boots or trousers connected to the device. Alternating positive and negative pressure, the entire surface of the legs is treated in waves, moving from the feet to the hips.
- Hand training. You've probably heard that it is the upper limbs that betray age. Appearing cellulite, sagging skin, and impaired blood supply become indications for pressotherapy. The patient is put on a jacket, long cuffs or a jacket with sleeves, and an individually selected treatment mode is set. Wave stimulation follows the lymph flow, from the hands to the armpits.
It is important to know that press massage is never performed on the head, face, neck and chest.
Why is pressotherapy needed?
Pressotherapy is otherwise called pulse barotherapy. It helps in the fight against hypertension. People who lead a sedentary lifestyle can restore muscle elasticity with the help of pressotherapy. Pulse massage allows you to optimize venous outflow and stimulate the movement of lymph through the vessels.
Pulse barotherapy is often prescribed after liposuction. It not only helps reduce swelling, but also narrows the walls of blood vessels, making them elastic.
Difficult blood supply and stagnation of lymph lead to the accumulation of waste and toxins in the body. After the procedure, the outflow of blood and lymph is restored, slagging is reduced, and the appearance of cellulite disappears.
What is the effect of pressotherapy?
During the procedure, excess fluid leaves the body, and the body becomes toned. At first glance, this is what can be called “weight loss for the lazy.” But is the result stable?
Alas, as soon as you drink any liquid, and even eat more salt, the water will return to your body. Those. This procedure gives an externally noticeable but temporary effect.
Pressotherapy simply helps remove excess fluid from the body. If you use it to combat excess weight, then in this case a lasting result is impossible.
Technique of the procedure
During the procedure, the patient wears a special suit. Depending on the problem areas, its segments can be fixed, for example, only on the legs, waist, buttocks. In general, the costume consists of gloves, a jacket, boots, and a belt. The patient assumes a horizontal position.
During the procedure, the suit is filled with air. The computer program doses the air supply individually. Wave-like, circulating effects on the legs, arms, abdomen, buttocks help to activate blood supply.
Air pressure lifts blood and lymph upward. Liquids begin to circulate more intensely. As pressure decreases, blood vessels dilate and the metabolic process in the tissues and cells of the body intensifies. Harmful substances are eliminated through sweat and urine.
Professional cosmetologists confirm that after a course of pressotherapy, the condition of the skin improves, lymph flow and blood flow are normalized. Excess fluid is removed from the body, swelling and cellulite are reduced.
Indications and contraindications
To many, it seems like a very easy procedure because of the pleasant sensations that patients experience in such a suit. In fact, the body experiences enormous stress under the influence of compressed air. Therefore, this method of losing weight should be taken seriously. In order not to harm your health, first of all you need to follow the indications and contraindications for its implementation.
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- insomnia;
- pain syndrome of extremities;
- varicose veins;
- headaches due to tension in the neck muscles;
- diabetic angiopathy;
- excess weight;
- swelling;
- gout;
- decreased skin tone;
- rehabilitation after liposuction;
- adhesions in the abdominal cavity;
- spasms;
- cellulite;
- chronic leg fatigue.
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- pregnancy;
- hypertension;
- infections;
- pacemaker;
- lactation;
- fever;
- any damage or disease of the skin;
- menstruation;
- oncology;
- acute pain of any nature;
- fractures, injuries;
- liver, kidney failure;
- diabetes;
- heart failure;
- thrombophlebitis, thrombosis;
- tuberculosis.
Violation of recommendations can be fraught with serious health complications. Consultation with a specialist is simply necessary here.
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On a note. In some centers, pressotherapy is allowed to be performed up to 3 months of pregnancy, but the pressure exerted by compressed air on internal organs can seriously harm the fetus at the very beginning of its intrauterine development. Especially if a woman plans to lose weight in the abdomen, sides, and waist. This procedure should be postponed until the postpartum period.
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Indications for pressotherapy
Pressotherapy is indicated in the following cases:
- muscle strain (after sports or hard work);
- local fat deposits;
- sagging skin;
- venous insufficiency;
- pronounced cellulite;
- heaviness in the legs;
- swelling after injury.
Pressotherapy is used as a prophylactic against thrombosis and varicose veins. Treatment is prescribed by a doctor from 10 to 15 procedures. They are not done every day, but with an interval of 2-3 days. If necessary, a repeat course is prescribed no earlier than after 5 months. The procedure lasts a minimum of 20 minutes, a maximum of 45 minutes.
Pressotherapy is best performed by those people for whom other effects on muscle tissue are contraindicated (ultrasound, manual massage, electrophoresis, electrical stimulation). The gentle effect of pulse barotherapy leads to a general improvement in well-being, lightness, and vigor.
Main indications for pressotherapy for weight loss
Thanks to its effects, pressotherapy has the following effects for weight loss :
- elimination of cellulite on the body and its prevention;
- reduction of fat deposits in problem areas;
- tightening sagging skin that has lost its elasticity;
- recovery after liposuction.
The procedure is widely used in medicine; pressotherapy is prescribed for the following diseases and disorders:
- phlebeurysm;
- chronic fatigue, depression;
- sleep disturbance;
- pain in the head due to tension in the neck muscles;
- swelling;
- adhesions in the abdominal cavity;
- various spasms;
- decreased immunity;
- gout;
- bowel dysfunction, such as constipation;
- recovery in the postoperative period.
And here is more information about cavitation for weight loss.
Contraindications
After just one session, pressotherapy has a positive effect on the body. Reviews from doctors warn that you should not self-medicate. Using a home device is only possible after consulting a therapist.
Contraindications for the procedure are:
- purulent skin lesions;
- fractures;
- open wounds;
- hemophilia;
- tuberculosis;
- edema of renal or cardiac origin;
- oncological diseases;
- thrombophlebitis;
- recent thrombosis;
- mental illness (epilepsy);
- pregnancy;
- menstruation;
- vascular damage in diabetes mellitus.
Contraindications to the use of pressotherapy
Pneumomassage is contraindicated in case of acute inflammatory process in the veins of the lower extremities (phlebitis and thrombophlebitis).
A temporary contraindication is inflammatory processes on the skin (erysipelas or pustular process)
- Acute thrombosis;
- Oncological diseases;
- Presence of a pacemaker;
- Feverish and infectious conditions;
- Tendency to bleeding;
- Kidney failure;
- Menstruation;
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding period;
- Tuberculosis;
- Lymphadenitis;
- Diabetes;
- Fractures;
- High blood pressure;
- The presence of chronic diseases of the organs in the area of the procedure.
In order to avoid any negative consequences, before performing pressotherapy, it is strongly recommended to undergo ultrasound diagnostics of the venous system of the upper and lower extremities.
Effect after pressotherapy
The effect of pressotherapy is that air, when supplied into the suit, affects subcutaneous fatty tissue, muscles, venous and lymphatic vessels. Taking into account problem areas, a local effect on a specific part of the body is possible.
In general, pressotherapy has an anti-cellulite, lymphatic drainage, and decongestant effect on the body. Blood circulation and intercellular fluid are activated. Sweating increases significantly, which allows you to remove waste and toxins from the body.
The pressotherapy device allows you to stimulate the work of the lymph nodes and activate microcirculation in the vessels. The procedure helps improve immunity and stress resistance. Venous networks on the legs disappear.
Pressotherapy allows you to normalize weight and correct your figure. Reviews from doctors indicate that the procedure is completely painless. It helps you feel a surge of strength and is useful for the treatment and prevention of chronic diseases.
Reviews from doctors about pressotherapy
The opinions of doctors agree that influencing the body through pressotherapy helps improve a person’s general condition.
- Metabolic processes are restored.
- Swelling decreases.
- Weight normalization occurs.
- The body's protective properties are activated.
- The appearance of cellulite is reduced.
- The water balance in the body is restored.
Therapists and cosmetologists say that the essence of the procedure is a massage with compressed air. It eliminates venous and lymphatic congestion. This physiotherapeutic procedure has a preventive effect on the body.
After 45 years, women begin to experience hormonal changes, which leads to slight swelling. Lack of daily sports exercises and a sedentary lifestyle lead to stagnation. The procedure is designed to improve skin condition, blood and lymph microcirculation. It is ineffective as a means of losing weight.
Doctors report that a home pressotherapy device is a good cosmetic product. But it should not be made a panacea for all diseases. Before performing pressotherapy at home, be sure to consult a doctor.
The procedure in beauty salons is expensive. But it can replace several sessions of manual massage. Be sure to drink up to 2 liters of fluid per day during the course of pressotherapy.
It is forbidden to carry out the procedure every day. It is necessary to give the body rest. Only after 2-3 days should you continue the course.
Stages of implementation
Before a pressotherapy session, the patient puts on a special suit, which consists of separate sections combined with each other. Tubes extend from this suit connecting it and the apparatus from which the air flow is supplied. The air passes under high pressure, exceeding atmospheric pressure. During the session, the person lies comfortably on the couch.
Air can be supplied either in a continuous stream or in short intervals of 30–120 seconds. The air pressure is constantly changing (this is controlled by a computer). During the procedure, a person does not experience any discomfort, but only feels pleasant, relaxing sensations and slight pressure on the body.
The suit can be worn over the entire body at once, and separate cuffs can be used only for the legs or, for example, the abdomen and waist. If a person is obese, it is recommended to act on different areas separately so as not to create a strong overload for the body.
In the cabin
To carry out the pressotherapy procedure, you can contact any cosmetology salon or aesthetic health center. The course includes from 15 to 20 procedures. The price of 1 session depends on factors such as the qualifications of the cosmetologist, the type of device used, and the quality of the material from which the cuffs are made.
The session lasts from 15 to 30 minutes. Given the many individual characteristics of the body, during manipulation it is necessary that a medical professional or cosmetologist be nearby. It is important to correctly calculate the degree of air pressure so as not to harm the skin.
At home
To carry out pressotherapy at home, you need to purchase a special device, the cost of which is quite high (from $600). If the device with the suit costs less, most likely it is a low-quality fake. When purchasing a device for home use, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:
- pressure indicator - 20–300 mm Hg;
- number of cameras - from 4 to 6;
- complete set: suit with cuffs; in the extended version, in addition to the suit, there is a device for infrared rays.
Algorithm for performing pressotherapy at home:
- You must wear a suit on your body. If you only need to treat the stomach and waist, 1 special belt is enough.
- Put on the cuffs, and then connect them to the air supply apparatus with special wires.
- Select the desired mode on the instrument panel.
The duration of the procedure should not exceed 30 minutes. Despite the possibility of performing pressotherapy at home, for safety reasons it is recommended to use this service in cosmetology salons.
Patient reviews
Pressotherapy is suitable for overweight people suffering from venous edema. Reviews before and after the procedure say that patients feel amazing lightness. After pressotherapy sessions, your mood improves. Immunity is noticeably increased - colds recede.
Although cellulite does not disappear completely, patients say, it becomes less noticeable. Skin tone improves, it glows with health. The figure is corrected - the difference between the waist and hips becomes noticeable. Fat deposits on the abdomen and sides are reduced, and weight is reduced slightly.
The procedure, according to patients, is pleasant. After it, migraines disappear, night cramps in the legs disappear. After undergoing 10 procedures, having received the desired effect, some patients decide to buy a device for home use.
Reviews
The opinions of women who used myostimulators in aesthetic cosmetology centers and at home were divided.
Many girls have appreciated the effectiveness of the procedure and claim that this is one of the simplest and most accessible methods of figure correction, which is optimal for the “lazy”. Other women note that even after completing a full course, their figure remains virtually unchanged.
Anastasia, 35 years old: “I decided to test myostimulation on myself because my friend really praised it to me. I’ll say right away that I didn’t have any special problems with excess weight and cellulite. I pursued one goal - to get rid of puffiness. What can I say: I’ve had 10 sessions, but there’s no effect. My figure hasn't changed at all. I think I just threw money away.”
Nina, 28 years old: “I am taking a course of myostimulation for the second time. Overall, the procedure is not bad, but you shouldn’t expect miracles from it. By itself, it is ineffective. But if you use it as an addition to diet and sports activities, the result will be amazing!”
Olga, 32 years old: “I really like the combination of myostimulation and pressotherapy. If I urgently need to get in shape, I always sign up for 2 courses at once. And after 3-4 weeks, all problem areas “disappear.” This is a real salvation for me.”
Home pressotherapy
The procedure at home will help maintain youth and get rid of cellulite. If there is no financial opportunity to do pressotherapy in the salon and time to visit the gym, then this method will preserve muscle tone and make the walls of blood vessels elastic.
Pressotherapy at home will remove unnecessary fat deposits and correct your figure. After 4-5 sessions there will be a noticeable improvement in problem areas. Skin sagging will disappear due to tissue saturation with oxygen and improved blood circulation.
Pressotherapy at home will relieve swelling and heaviness in the legs. The device can be used to prevent thrombosis in bedridden (paralyzed) patients. It is also used in the postoperative period to eliminate hematomas and swelling.
With the help of a pressotherapy device, headaches will disappear and the functioning of the digestive system will improve. Sleep and immunity are normalized. The procedure will increase resistance to stress.
Pressotherapy: devices at home
The apparatus for carrying out the procedure consists of a suit (cuffs) and a power supply (compressor), which allows you to regulate the load on the body or individual parts of the body.
Air ducts for home appliances should be as flexible as possible. In some devices they are connected to the suit, in others they must be connected each time before the procedure.
To compare prices: 1,500 rubles (on average) costs one session of a procedure such as pressotherapy. Apparatus for home – 20–30 thousand rubles. To undergo 10 procedures (1 course) in the salon, you need to prepare 22,500 rubles. If there are no contraindications, then the necessary procedure can be performed every six months.
The pressotherapy device is small in size. It is easy to transport and does not take up much space in the apartment. The suit can be purchased not completely, but in parts (cuffs on the legs or a belt on the waist - depending on the problem area).
Contraindications for pressotherapy
Like any medical product, lymphomassage is beneficial, but has a number of contraindications, which are divided into general and individual. The first include diseases, the presence of which prohibits a session on any part of the body. The second includes deviations in the functioning of specific organs or systems, which becomes an obstacle to performing the procedure on a specific area of the body.
General contraindications are:
- Skin problems. Acute inflammatory processes, wounds, and injuries do not allow the procedure to be performed. As a result, the condition can only worsen, which will cause undeniable harm.
- Benign and malignant neoplasms. Their location does not matter.
- Tuberculosis in open or closed form.
- Cardiovascular diseases. These include arrhythmia, heart failure, poor blood clotting, a pacemaker, thrombosis or thrombophlebitis. The use of a device for the pressotherapy procedure increases blood flow, which can lead to serious consequences against the background of existing dysfunctions.
- Diabetes. During its course, large and small blood vessels are affected. Therefore, the risk of internal bleeding is high.
- Performed surgical interventions on peripheral nerve trunks.
- Kidney and liver failure, edema caused by them, as well as abnormalities in the functioning of the heart. During the session, the load on the body increases, which negatively affects poorly functioning organs.
- The presence of metal prostheses in places of pressure.
- Epilepsy, mental disorders. Seizures characteristic of the condition can be provoked.
Pressotherapy is recognized as more effective than manual massage.
Individual contraindications
This is a group of factors that do not allow the use of pressotherapy on certain parts of the body. Their list can be found in table 8.1.
Table 8.1. Individual contraindications for lymphomassage
Neck and face | Stomach |
1. Thyroid dysfunction | 1. Pregnancy and lactation |
2. Increased sensitivity of the carotid sinus | 2. Intestinal diseases, including intestinal obstruction |
3. Rehabilitation period after cosmetic procedures | 3. Previously diagnosed peritonitis |
4. Lesions of the nerve trunks of a traumatic or inflammatory nature (facial, trigeminal nerve) | 4. Rehabilitation after surgery |
5. Period of menstruation | |
6. Uterine fibroids |
According to many doctors, barotherapy increases blood flow in vessels, including those that feed the uterine tumor. This stimulates its growth.