What pressotherapy is
Pressotherapy is a treatment using pneumatic compression. The legs are placed in special cuffs that alternately fill with compressed air, creating a wave of pressure that moves from the foot toward the thigh — mimicking and reinforcing the body’s natural lymphatic and venous drainage mechanism.
The result is faster movement of fluid from the periphery toward the centre of the body — swelling goes down, the legs feel lighter, and circulation improves.
Who benefits from pressotherapy
After orthopaedic surgery — knee, hip, ankle. The swelling that follows every surgical procedure slows down rehabilitation. Pressotherapy speeds up the reabsorption of swelling and shortens the time it takes to regain full function.
Lymphedema — a chronic condition in which the lymphatic system doesn’t drain fluid normally. Pressotherapy is a standard method in the conservative management of lymphedema.
Chronic heavy-leg syndrome — venous insufficiency, fatigue and heaviness in the legs after long periods of standing or sitting. A common complaint among people who spend a lot of time on their feet or at a desk.
Sports recovery — after long runs, matches or demanding training sessions, the muscles in the legs become acidic and swollen. Pressotherapy speeds up the elimination of lactic acid and metabolic waste, meaning faster recovery between training sessions.
Thrombosis prevention — prolonged immobility (injuries, hospitalisation, long flights) increases the risk of clot formation. Compression helps maintain venous flow.
What the treatment looks like
The patient lies in a relaxed position. The legs are placed in cuffs that wrap around the entire foot, calf and thigh. The device generates sequential pressure that slowly moves from the bottom upward — like a gentle, deep massage.
The session lasts 30–60 minutes and is completely painless. It’s most often applied in a series of 6 to 20 sessions, with a day’s gap between sessions — the effects are cumulative, with each session building on the last.