Why Compression?

How Compression Therapy Works

The presence of edema creates increased interstitial pressure and fluid accumulation. Resistance over the tissue becomes necessary for the removal of excess fluid. Compression therapy provides the necessary resistance to return fluid to circulation.

Inelastic vs. Elastic Compression

The two classes of compression each have their advantages. Elastic compression can to a certain extent accommodate changes in leg volume. This means that as limb volume goes down or increases, the device will continue to provide a fairly constant level of compression. While this is good in that it means the device will continue to function as swelling goes down, it is disadvantageous because patients do not always need the same amount of compression - as patient position changes, venous pressure changes, and hence the required level of external pressure changes. For example, when a patient is lying down, the pressure in the veins goes down, and hence less compression is desired. Too much compression can restrict circulation.

With non-elastic compression, the device does not adjust to changes in limb volume. This means that when a patient lies down, the compression goes down - matching the body's needs. The disadvantage is that if the patient's leg volume goes down over the course of treatment, traditional non-elastic devices are not able to accommodate the change, and the compression level goes down.

CircAid® Compression Garments

This is what makes compression garments from CircAid® unique. Because of its system of interlocking bands, the compression level can be easily adjusted to accommodate changes in limb volume. At the same time, because it is primarily inelastic, patients receive compression levels that adjust with need: when the patient is standing, the compression increases; when the patient is lying down, the compression decreases.

Indications for Use

1. Lymphedema
2. Varicose veins (all types)
3. Chronic Venous Insufficiency ("CVI")
4. Venous Stasis Disease
5. Venous Valvular Insufficiency ("VVI")
6. Venous Insufficiency
7. Post Thrombotic Syndrome
8. Venous Ulcer (Stasis Ulcer)
9. Edema: Venous, Lymph, Post Traumatic, Post Surgical, "Lipedema"
10. Angio Dysplasia
11. Post Sclerotherapy
12. Thrombosis Prevention
13. Venous Eczema
14. Lipidodermatosclerosis

Contraindications for Use

Absolute Contraindications (should virtually never use compression):

1. Severe Peripheral Arterial Disease
2. Decompensated Congestive Heart Failure
3. Septic Phlebitis
4. Phlegmasia Cerula Dolens - (almost total venous thrombosis of a leg)

Relative Contraindications (used compression only with caution):

1. Decreased or absent sensation in the leg
2. Allergy to compression material
3. Moderate peripheral arterial disease
4. Infection in the leg