All You Need to Know About Compression Wraps

Compression therapy is a key element in the conservative treatment of diseases of the venous and lymphatic systems. Traditional elastic bandaging of the limb with the use of elastic bandages of various degrees of extensibility has a number of significant drawbacks.

First of all, they include the need for a medical presence when applying a  bandage, a large number of elastic bandages of inadequate quality, as well as the rapid loss of their compression properties. An excellent alternative to elastic bandaging is modern medical compression products – compression hosiery, stockings, tights, knee-highs.

The main advantages of compression hosiery include:

• Uniform distribution of pressure programmed by the computer in the manufacture of the product and, as a result, the absence of the need for medical participation when donning;
• Strength and long-term preservation of compression properties (with daily wear, the service life is 5-6 months);
• Convenience, comfort, as well as the aesthetic appearance of the product;
• The ability to select the necessary degree of compression according to indications.

There are a lot of benefits of compression wraps but can turn out to be not beneficial at all if you wear without prescription. The appointment of knitwear as a medical product should be carried out strictly by a doctor, taking into account indications and contraindications.

What are the indications and contraindications for wearing compression hosiery? 

Indications for use of compression hosiery: 

• Static loads travel
• Varicose veins
• Lymphedema
• Postoperative period
• Sclerotherapy
• Pregnancy
• Thrombosis,  deep vein thrombosis, posttrombotichsekaya disease
• Prevention of deep vein thrombosis and post-thrombotic disease

The main contraindications to the use of compression knitwear include diseases of the peripheral arteries in the late stages, severe neurological disorders,  lymphangitis, as well as individual intolerance to the components of the product.

What is the difference between different types of compression wraps?

According to the degree of pressure on the ankle region, five compression classes of medical knitwear are distinguished: 

• Preventive (less than 18 mm RT. Art.)
• I class (18 – 21 mm Hg) 
• II class (23 – 32 mm Hg) 
• Class III (34 – 46 mmHg) 
• IV class (> 49 mmHg) 

The choice of the degree of compression is carried out by the attending physician according to individual indications. 

Today, there are products for the lower limbs (knee-highs, stockings, and tights) and for the upper limbs (sleeves and gloves) on the compression knitwear market. As for the choice of the type of knitwear for the lower extremities, factors such as the personal preference of the patient and the doctor play a greater role here.

It should be noted that from a medical point of view, tights have no advantages over stockings, but are rather inconvenient to use. Compression knitwear is selected only in accordance with individual sizes, which are removed by a doctor in person or by a specially trained consultant in the salon. Incorrectly selected knitwear will deliver maximum discomfort when worn and will not bring benefits. In addition, the doctor or consultant must explain how to wear a compression product.