Compression Pumps

Most lymphedemaa chronic, abnormal swelling of a part of the body. It is an accumulation of protein-rich fluid in the superficial tissues that most commonly occurs in the arms or legs but can affect any part of the body. experts agree that the use of compression pumps have many disadvantages and are not normally recommended in the treatment of lymphedema. Compression pumps have been used to treat swelling disorders for decades. It is a mechanical device that "milks" fluid out of an extremity. It does a good job of moving water out of an extremity, but it has several setbacks when treating lymphedema. Compression pumps do not address scar tissue or connective tissue changes that happen with lymphedema. It produces temporary results and is very time consuming and bulky. It also does not address the adjacent trunk area serviced by the damaged lymphatic system and can actually cause the lymphedema to spread into the trunk or genitals. When used to treat lymphedema it should only be used after a session of manual lymphatic drainagea manual technique used to stimulate the lymph system. It can be used to retrain or redirect the path to remove lymph fluid..

pulmonary edema, thrombophlebitis, congestive heart failure, DVTs, episodes of pulmonary embolism, infections, inflammation, acute cancer