Helpful information about Compression Therapy

Compression Bandages are a form of compression therapy used to treat venous ulcers. Compression Bandages has been shown to improve the rate of ulcer healing and reduce the incidence from recurring. Between 50% to 60% of patients heal by using Compression Bandages in the first 6 months alone. Some of the physiologic changes that have been reported to occur using compression therapy include improvements of lymphatic drainage, reduction of superficial venous pressure, improvements of blood flow velocity through deep an superficial veins and reduction of reflux in the deep veins. Studies have shown that venous ulcers that show healing after 4 weeks of compression therapy are likely to be completely healed by 24 weeks. If venous ulcers don't show healing after 4 weeks of using compression bandages and dressings they tend to remain problematic.

Proper Application

Paste Unna Boots with calamine or multilayered wraps like Profore are typically used for ulcer treatment. Once the dressing is applied, the patient should be seen again in 3 to 4 days by the healthcare professional to help determine if the applied compression is tolerable. If there is significant edema and exudate (fluid drainage) the compression dressing should be changed twice a week.