How is a procedure such as pressotherapy performed? Is it possible to do it at home, what are the indications and contraindications. Modern medicine allows not only to improve health, but also to restore beauty. Every year, more and more various modern techniques and procedures appear that allow you to maintain the beauty and youth of the body. But at the same time, now there is no need to exhaust your own body with hard physical training or follow strict diets and starve yourself. In addition, the result obtained will last long enough.
Recently, such a rejuvenating procedure as pressotherapy has become increasingly popular. But before carrying out it, it is necessary to familiarize yourself in more detail with all the subtleties, indications and existing contraindications.
Pressotherapy for the body: what is this procedure
In its effect, pressotherapy is somewhat similar to massage. The main difference between these procedures is that the massage is performed by the hands of a specialist, and during pressotherapy, the effect is exerted precisely due to the alternation of low and high pressure.
During the procedure, a special suit is put on the patient, which is then connected directly to the pressotherapy apparatus and a computer. There are several special cuffs in the costume for the procedure. It is through them that the supply and subsequent evacuation of air occurs. As a result, first a high pressure is created inside, and then a vacuum.
At the time when there is a decrease in pressure in the suit, vasodilation begins, as a result of which the blood flow to the tissues increases. There are models of costumes for the procedure, which have an infrared heating system. This makes it possible to regulate the temperature inside the suit, therefore, the procedure becomes more effective.
During pressure therapy, as a result of the pressure change, muscles begin to work rhythmically. The blood flow and outflow in the body of both venous blood and lymph is normalized. The metabolic process is accelerated, due to which toxins and other harmful substances are removed from the body much faster.
The pressotherapy procedure helps to normalize the water balance, all excess fluid is removed from the body, therefore, edema is eliminated. This effect can be obtained precisely due to the simultaneous change in pressure and temperature in the suit.
This procedure was developed by a scientist from the Netherlands, Van Der Molin. The initial purpose of pressotherapy was to remove excess fluid from the body of patients affected by disasters. Then the cosmetological effect was discovered. As a result, pressotherapy has become widely used not only in the fight against excess weight, but also signs of cellulite. it also helps to improve the body and rejuvenate the skin of the body.
Indications for pressotherapy
- This procedure will be of great benefit to people with a sedentary lifestyle. The fact is that in the case of insufficient loads, excess fluid begins to accumulate in the body. Minimal exercise and fluid buildup may occur in people who have recently had major injury or surgery. Thanks to pressotherapy, the speed of rehabilitation is significantly accelerated.
- Pressotherapy is recommended for varicose veins disease. As a result of narrowing and expansion of blood vessels under the influence of pressure fluctuations, their walls are strengthened. Due to this, the walls of the vessels become more elastic. Therefore, it is recommended to perform pressotherapy as a prophylaxis for varicose veins.
- During pressure therapy, muscles tighten and expand, which in turn relieves muscle soreness and muscle spasms. Therefore, this procedure is very useful for professional athletes and people whose body is constantly exposed to increased physical activity.
- It has a positive effect on the condition and beauty of the skin. After pressotherapy, the skin becomes more elastic, with a pronounced rejuvenating effect.
Slimming pressotherapy
Many cosmetologists tell their patients about this procedure, as an effective and simple way to quickly get rid of excess weight. But it is not so. Pressotherapy can be a catalyst for reducing excess fluid in the body. The result is a gradual decrease in body weight.
But the pressotherapy procedure will not help get rid of the existing fatty deposits. That is why, after completing the course, most patients remain very disappointed with the result.
But there is also a positive effect of the procedure in the fight against excess weight - there is an effective cleansing of the lymphatic system, blood flow is significantly improved. It is thanks to this action that the metabolism is accelerated in the body, therefore, the body weight is gradually decreasing.
Due to this effect, pressotherapy is considered as an additional procedure in the fight against excess weight. The procedure is most beneficial in the fight against the signs of cellulite. If pressotherapy against cellulite is used, not only skin cells are cleansed, but the intercellular space, as a result, its elasticity improves.
Today, it is pressotherapy that is one of the most effective procedures aimed at combating the signs of cellulite. To achieve maximum efficiency, it is recommended to combine it with wraps.
How pressotherapy is done - photo of the procedure
To perform the pressotherapy procedure, special equipment is used, consisting of an apparatus and a suit. It is the computer-controlled apparatus that draws air into the suit. Cuffs are put on the arms and legs or other parts of the body, taking into account the plan of the procedure.
After that, with a certain pressure and frequency, air is injected into the cuffs. In this case, air is supplied from bottom to top using a pulse wave, with short breaks, the duration of which may be several seconds or minutes.
Depending on the purpose of the procedure and a specific program, which should only be selected by a specialist, the amplitude of the effect and the level of air supply are regulated. The whole process is completely controlled by a computer, so the effect of such a procedure is quite high.
Throughout the procedure, the patient lies calmly on the couch and absolutely no activity is required. On average, one session lasts about 30 minutes. According to patient reviews, the sensations after such a procedure are very pleasant, there is a feeling of complete relaxation and light warmth in the body, which occurs due to the rush of blood.
According to physiotherapists, just one pressotherapy session can replace 10 simple manual massage sessions. On an individual basis, depending on the goals and the initial state of the body, not only the strength of the impact is determined, but also the number of treatment procedures.
On average, 10–20 pressotherapy sessions are prescribed. It is not recommended to carry out such a procedure every day, since the body needs time to recover. As a rule, there is a short break of 1-2 days between each session.
Literally after 2-3 sessions, a positive result will be noticeable - a feeling of lightness appears throughout the body, the amount of edema is noticeably reduced, and muscle spasms decrease. If pressotherapy is used to combat cellulite, a positive result appears after 5-6 sessions.
To achieve maximum benefit, after completing a full course of pressotherapy, it is recommended to undergo a second one after six months. On average, the cost of the procedure is about 600 rubles.
Pressotherapy programs
To date, several special programs have been developed that are recommended for a specific disease. At the same time, for each patient, the program is selected taking into account the severity of the patient's condition and the characteristics of the organism.
The pressotherapy procedure is performed in several ways:
- With the use of a space suit, due to which the maximum benefit of the effect of the procedure on the entire body is achieved.
- With cuff. This method is used for local exposure when it is necessary to work out certain areas of the body. Also, the cuffs help to prescribe the procedure in the presence of some contraindications. With the help of the cuff, pressotherapy can be carried out during pregnancy, thereby completely eliminating the risk to the woman and the child.
Programs and types of pressotherapy:
- Hand pressure therapy performed using a cuff. Thanks to the passage of this program, you can get rid of such an unpleasant phenomenon as sagging skin of the hands, after drastic weight loss.
- Lymphatic drainage pressotherapy. During the procedure, not only the effect of massage is obtained, but also the drainage of fluid throughout the body, including lymph, is activated. As a result, there is a significant improvement in the metabolic process, and the general intoxication of the body decreases.
- Leg pressure therapy. Mangen is also used during this procedure. It is prescribed for cosmetic and medical reasons. Leg pressotherapy is recommended for cellulite and varicose veins. Due to the fact that the stagnation of fluid in the legs is removed, it becomes possible to get rid of pain and a feeling of heaviness in the lower extremities. During pressotherapy, the condition of the vessels of the legs improves, their elasticity increases. Therefore, the procedure is recommended both for the treatment of varicose veins, and as a prevention of this ailment.
- Abdominal pressotherapy. Skin folds that may remain after dramatic weight loss are removed. This procedure helps to improve skin elasticity, the problem area is significantly reduced, and a pronounced anti-cellulite effect is manifested.
- Pressotherapy and lumbar massage. A special compression belt is used to carry out this program. A procedure is prescribed in the presence of persistent pain in the back, including arthritis, osteochondrosis, neuralgic pain and arthrosis. It is recommended to carry out pressotherapy after a severe back injury, due to which the rehabilitation process is significantly accelerated. The procedure is used as an anti-decubitus agent for people with disabilities.
Preparation for pressotherapy
Before carrying out this procedure, no special training is required, but several recommendations must be taken into account:
- The last meal should be taken no later than 2 hours before the pressotherapy.
- It is mandatory to cleanse the skin in the area of exposure.
- It is recommended to empty the bladder, especially if the abdominal area will be affected.
- Before starting the procedure, the doctor must conduct a conversation with the patient, study the anamnesis, and only after that a therapeutic course is prescribed.
Contraindications for pressotherapy
It is strongly not recommended to carry out pressotherapy and massage in the following cases:
- the patient has a pacemaker;
- any form of tuberculosis;
- diabetes;
- damage to the blood vessels;
- swelling of tissues, which is caused by problems associated with the work and condition of the kidneys or heart;
- epilepsy;
- pregnancy;
- problems associated with the blood clotting process;
- drug or alcohol addiction;
- mental disorders;
- liver failure;
- inflammation of the skin, proceeding in an acute form;
- damage to bones and skin in the area of exposure.
Only a doctor can decide whether to carry out such a procedure with high blood pressure or not. This indicator in each case is determined on a strictly individual basis.
The harm from this procedure can be the result of myoma disease. During pressotherapy, blood flow accelerates through the vessels, therefore, the risk of activating pathology and the formation of new fibroid nodes is significantly increased.
In most cases, pressotherapy is only beneficial, but only if the procedure is carried out correctly and the appropriate regimen is set. However, if the mode and program were chosen incorrectly, and the body is loaded too much, there is a possibility of severe reddening of the skin or the formation of a hematoma, which is the result of blood vessels. These problems do not need additional treatment and go away on their own after a few days.
