The Effects of Alternate Suction and Pressure on Blood Flow to the Lower Extremities

A prospective randomized controlled study with intermittent mechanical compression of the calf in patients with claudication

“…21 Gaskell and Parrot, 9 as early as 1977, demonstrated that mechanical compression improves blood flow to the lower limbs of seated arteriopathic patients using radioactive Xe 133 to measure tissue perfusion. More recently, Morgan et al 22 used non-invasive duplex color flow imaging and demonstrated increases in popliteal artery volume flow induced by short-cycle mechanical compressions applied to the leg.…”

Acute Effects of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression on Popliteal Artery Blood Flow

“…The beneficial effect of intermittent pneumatic compression was first described in 2 reports in 1934 22,23 ; however, favorable clinical results were not attributed to increased tissue perfusion because blood flow could not be measured. Using xenon 133 clearance rates, Gaskell and Parrott 24 demonstrated that pneumatic foot and ankle compression increased the blood flow 80% in the limbs of sitting patients with peripheral arterial disease.…”

Effect of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression of Foot and Calf on Walking Distance, Hemodynamics, and Quality of Life in Patients With Arterial Claudication

“…Despite some limited benefit noted in some individuals, unsupervised exercise had a nonsignificant impact overall. A lthough the concept of alternating external limb compression for ameliorating rest pain in patients with critical limb ischemia was introduced in the mid-1930s, 1 for almost 4 decades clinical interest in the method remained dormant. In the late 1970s, the delivery of pneumatic compression to the foot and ankle was reported to enhance perfusion in the skin and muscle of the leg, reflected by a 133 Xe clearance enhancement by a mean of 80%.…”