Pressotherapy is a method of drainage. By helping to improve blood and lymphatic circulation, it relieves, among other things, the phenomena of heavy legs and water retention.

Definition

Pressotherapy is a technique of veino-lymphatic drainage performed mechanically using a device.

The main principles

Pressotherapy uses the principle of action of lymphatic drainage, namely pressure exerted on the body, from bottom to top, in order to promote blood and lymphatic circulation. But instead of being carried out with the hands, the pressures are exerted here with pressotherapy devices. These devices come in the form of a belt (for the stomach), sleeves (for the arms) or boots (for the legs) connected to an air compressor and fitted with small tires which will inflate one after the other. the others, in order to exert more or less strong pressure at regular intervals, continuously or sequentially according to the desired effect on the targeted areas.

Promote venous and lymphatic return

By improving blood and lymphatic circulation, pressotherapy helps relieve blood circulation problems: feeling of heavy legs, edema and lymphedema, varicose veins, etc. It is also useful for improving recovery in athletes. Pressotherapy by continuous pressure will be preferred to obtain this draining action.

Promote the elimination of toxins

Thanks to a better circulation of fluids, pressotherapy also helps to promote the elimination of toxins.

Have an action on aqueous cellulite

Pressotherapy can also have a beneficial action against aqueous cellulite, insofar as it is linked to a problem of water retention due in part to poor circulation. The sequential pressure technique will be used for this anti-cellulite objective. On its own, however, pressotherapy is not enough to overcome cellulite. It must be associated with a food rebalancing, or even other techniques such as cryolipolise for example.

Regular sessions are however necessary to obtain these various benefits.

The specialist

Pressotherapy is offered in physiotherapy practices, aesthetic centers, thalassotherapy or thermal medicine centers or even aesthetic medicine practices, as long as they have a pressotherapy device and personnel trained in their handling.

Course of a session

A pressotherapy session lasts 20 to 30 minutes.

The person is lying on a massage table. The practitioner puts on the boots, sleeves and / or belt, then sets the rate of compression and decompression on the device, depending on the person and the desired effect. The increase in pressure is gradual.

Contraindications

Pressotherapy presents some contraindications: untreated hypertension, presence of tumors or abscesses, renal insufficiency, severe cardiac disorders, venous thrombosis and severe thrombophlebitis.