Nonpainful wide-area compression inhibits experimental pain
In this study, compression with Lympha Pants® and Lympha Press Optimal® reduced the perception of experimental pain stimulus applied to the hands, showing that large-area lower-body compression may have an analgesic effect.
Healthy volunteers received a pain stimulus in the form of heat applied to the hands, before treatment and during compression of the lower body at 60 mm Hg with Lympha Press Optimal® and Lympha Pants®. The compression was applied randomly to three areas of the body: to feet only, to feet and legs, and to the entire lower body. The pain level from the pain stimulus felt by each subject was assessed continuously throughout treatment. Compression applied to the larger areas (feet and legs, entire lower body) reduced the sensation of experimental pain applied to the arms, showing significant analgesic effect of the Lympha Pants® action. Subjects reported no discomfort from the compression itself.
RESULTS: This neurological study shows that pneumatic compression with the Lympha Pants® may have an application as a pain reducing modality, in addition to, or separate from, treatment of lymphedema, lipedema and venous stasis.