Compression therapy can help boost circulation, particularly in the legs, feet, and ankles. With blood, oxygen, and nutrients flowing to these areas of the body, the treatment aims to help with swelling, fluid retention, stiffness, soreness, and pain—among many other benefits.
Supporting recovery and enhancing the effects of assisted stretching, compression therapy is a low-effort, high-impact tool for busy, active people. It’s a core part of the Stretch*d experience for many clients.
But what is compression therapy, exactly? How does it work, and where or how can you have it done? Keep reading for answers to these questions, along with insight into the benefits of compression therapy, who it’s best for, and what other therapies to pair it with.
What is compression therapy?
Compression therapy is a treatment that uses controlled external pressure on the limbs (most often the legs) to support circulation, boost recovery, and keep blood and fluid from building up in the calves, ankles, and feet.
It can help relieve various ailments that can happen from poor circulation in the lower extremities, like swelling from fluid trapped in tissues (edema), blood clots in deep veins in the legs (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT), and varicose veins.
Types of compression therapy
Compression therapy can be done with wraps, special knee-high stockings (called compression socks), or tightly woven sleeves for the arms. There are also compression devices for home use and clinical settings, like inflatable intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) cuffs or Normatec boots.
Compressive therapy at Stretch*d is a passive treatment—you can sit back and relax while the equipment does the work. Meanwhile, assisted stretching and massage therapy are a little more involved but still guided by a bodywork professional.
How compression therapy works
Compression therapy with Normatec boots uses sequential pressure. The mechanism is similar to how a blood pressure cuff works, except it continuously tightens and releases. This moves fresh, oxygenated blood and lymphatic fluid through the legs, helps clear metabolic waste, and prevents blood and fluid from pooling up in the feet and ankles. Similar principles are used in services like lymphatic facial massage, which focuses on encouraging lymph flow in the face and neck to reduce puffiness and support overall circulation.
Compression sleeves and stockings work similarly, only they’re worn for several hours at a time, sometimes multiple days in a row.
By gently and consistently putting pressure on the limbs, the treatment essentially squeezes veins. The idea is to help poorly functioning veins and heart valves:
- Send blood toward the heart
- Boost lymphatic drainage
- Minimize swelling
- Support whole-body circulation
Compression therapy might also keep excess fluid from leaking into tissues, which can help with muscle recovery after exercise, reduce soreness, and prevent edema.
Key benefits of compression therapy
The main benefits of compression therapy are:
- Reduced muscle soreness and stiffness, especially after working out or long days on your feet
- Faster recovery following intense training sessions, physical therapy, or Stretch*d studio visits
- Improved blood circulation in the legs, feet, and ankles, as well as the rest of the body
- Decreased swelling and fluid retention in the lower body
- A feeling of lightness in the legs and improved mobility
- Enhanced relaxation during and after each session
Research shows that compression therapy is effective at boosting blood flow to the legs, feet, and ankles, alleviating pain, and reducing muscle stiffness.,
In one study, women with lipedema (painful buildup of fat in the legs) treated with pneumatic compression had reduced swelling, pain, and leg heaviness. Not only that, but this type of compression therapy seemed to work better at improving their quality of life than just wearing compression stockings.
Who benefits most from compression therapy?
Here’s who’ll get the most out of compression therapy:
- Athletes and people with very active lifestyles – Think distance runners (like those training for marathons), cyclists, folks who play competitive sports, and strength trainers who load their lower bodies heavily or need to bounce back quickly from intense training.
- Desk workers and commuters – Those who sit for long periods can get relief from compression therapy, as well as those with standing jobs, like nurses, teachers, or restaurant workers.
- Frequent fliers – Travelers who experience swelling, puffiness, or leg fatigue during or after a flight can benefit from both compressive socks and studio visits with pneumatic compression therapy.
- People with circulation issues – Research shows that compression therapy can improve mobility and quality of life for those with varicose veins, edema, lymph fluid buildup (lymphedema), and other issues with lower-body circulation.,
That said, you don’t have to be an athlete, on your feet all day at work, or have a chronic condition to benefit from compression therapy.
Some clients who visit Stretch*d for compression therapy are people who train hard and need a reliable recovery tool. Others are busy professionals who sit for long hours and struggle with heavy, fatigued legs. But many are simply wellness-minded individuals looking for simple, low-effort ways to support circulation, reduce tension, and feel restored and ready to take on whatever life throws their way.
Compression therapy at Stretch*d
Stretch*d uses Normatec boots to provide a form of pneumatic compression therapy. These inflatable boots call on dynamic air compression to mimic the effects of muscle contractions without you having to move your body. This elevates circulation throughout the body, brings blood flow and oxygen to muscles, minimizes soreness, and supports recovery.
After sitting down in a comfortable armchair, a bodywork specialist will help you get the boots on and explain how your compression therapy session will work. They’ll adjust the intensity and other settings based on your preferences, comfort, and goals. Each session is 15 minutes to an hour, depending on your needs.
Why compression therapy pairs perfectly with assisted stretching
Compression therapy with Normatic boots works really well as a supplement to an assisted stretching session. By increasing circulation, the treatment helps muscles respond better to stretching when used before and manage soreness when used afterward.
Many Stretch*d clients book pneumatic compression along with their assisted stretching or massage therapyStretch*ssage appointments to enhance their experience and boost overall results. Get in touch with us or ask your Stretch*r at your next visit what they recommend for your personalized stack.
Is compression therapy safe?
Compression therapy is generally safe and suitable for most healthy adults, especially when it’s done in a professional setting. Stretch*d bodywork pros always check in on your comfort level and will adjust the pressure as needed. You can also stop or change the intensity at any time during your session.
Most possible side effects are relatively minor, like skin irritation or a fungal infection (similar to the risk of athlete’s foot from a sweaty shoe). Still, ask your healthcare provider before doing compression therapy. This is particularly important if you’re pregnant or have any circulatory, cardiac, or clotting conditions.
How often should you do compression therapy?
Serious athletes training for an event might do compression therapy two to three times a week. Active adults and more casual users may come in for a session once a week or so. If you’re supplementing with compressive socks, you can typically wear those daily for a few hours (but ask your provider to be sure).
Consider scheduling sessions around hard workouts, long runs, or other events. Or pair compression therapy with your next assisted stretching appointment. For best results and ongoing benefits, we recommend weekly or bi-weekly sessions.
How to add compression therapy to your Stretch*d visit
When you book your next Stretch*d session, you can choose compression therapy as an add-on service. Other add-ons we offer include percussive therapy, arnica cooling gel, buccal technique, cryotherapy, and guided bodyrolling.
You can also book compression therapy on its own. Either way, it’s worth trying it at least once to see how your legs feel afterward.
Ready to experience compression therapy?
Compression therapy is an easy and relaxing yet powerful recovery tool for athletes, busy professionals, travelers, and anyone with stiffness, swelling, or other circulation issues.
If you’re ready to give it a try, schedule a visit at your nearest Stretch*d studio, and consider stacking it with assisted stretching for full-body recovery. We have two New York City locations and a new studio in Encinitas, California.
Sources:
Cleveland Clinic. Compression Therapy. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23449-compression-therapy
Advances in Dermatology and Allergology. The effect of compression therapy on quality of life in patients with chronic venous disease: a comparative 6-month study. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8330868/
Lymphatic Research and Biology. The Effectiveness of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression in Long-Term Therapy of Lymphedema of Lower Limbs. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4062105/
Life. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Compression Therapy Combined with Exercises Versus Exercises Only Among Lipedema Patients Using Various Outcome Measures. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/11/1346
Frontiers in Robotics and AI. A low-cost wearable device for portable sequential compression therapy. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/robotics-and-ai/articles/10.3389/frobt.2022.1012862/full
International Journal of Medical Sciences. A Comparative Clinical Study on Five Types of Compression Therapy in Patients with Venous Leg Ulcers. https://www.medsci.org/v11p0034.htm
Venous and Lymphatic Disorders. Results from a comparative study to evaluate the treatment effectiveness of a nonpneumatic compression device vs an advanced pneumatic compression device for lower extremity lymphedema swelling (TEAYS study). https://www.jvsvenous.org/article/S2213-333X(24)00361-5/fulltext
Journal of Vascular Surgery. Dose-response of compression therapy for chronic venous edema—higher pressures are associated with greater volume reduction: Two randomized clinical studies. https://www.jvascsurg.org/article/S0741-5214(08)01435-3/fulltext
Journal of Advanced Nursing. Barriers and facilitators to use of compression therapy by people with venous leg ulcers: A qualitative exploration. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jan.15608
Journal of Physical Therapy Science. Effect of sequential pneumatic compression therapy on venous blood velocity, refilling time, pain and quality of life in women with varicose veins: a randomized control study. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4968489/
Venous Disease. Compression Therapy: Is It Worthwhile?. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4471-0829-0_11
University of Twente. A review of compression therapy, effect, characteristics, and theories for chronic venous insufficiency. https://research.utwente.nl/en/publications/a-review-of-compression-therapy-effect-characteristics-and-theori/
Life. An Advanced Pneumatic Compression Therapy System Improves Leg Volume and Fluid, Adipose Tissue Thickness, Symptoms, and Quality of Life and Reduces Risk of Lymphedema in Women with Lipedema. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/5/725
Annals of Vascular Diseases. Compression Therapy: Clinical and Experimental Evidence. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3641539/
