Circulation

Compression boots: how they help boost circulation.

Impaired circulation is a relatively common issue, that may be both a facilitator and contributor in a wide variety of health ailments. It may present with a range of issues - varying from mild to critical degrees of severity. 

Hence: optimising circulation is a crucial health component, that may offer assistance in both a general health context, and many conditions/assistive applications. 

Below, we discuss a highly beneficial, newer technology treatment that is additionally an easy home option: compression boots. 

Whilst compression therapy is renowned, including for benefits in circulation - this article covers compression boots as the potentially more optimal substitute in this field. 

Read on to learn how they may improve your circulation. 

What is circulation and why is it so important? 

Circulation refers to the flow of blood (including nutrients and oxygen) throughout your body and systems, as your heart pumps it. 

Poor circulation can be uncomfortable all at best, and severely detrimental at worst. As one of our core and primary functions, it is necessary in all health aspects for proper circulation to be maintained throughout the body. 

In absence of this, a multitude of issues may present, such as: 

  • Tingling or pins and needles sensations 

  • Numb body parts

  • Pain or throbbing in certain areas

  • Cramping (in muscles) 

  • Secondary health conditions 

Poor circulation may also occur as a result of an already present health condition (like diabetes.) In this case, compression boots may serve as an excellent management strategy. See below.

What are compression boots? 

Compression therapy has long been known to benefit circulation: for instance, commonly socks. 

Compression boots are a similar premise, however in a slightly altered, optimised format that comes in the form of a boot to wear vs stocking. The difference between a sock and boot is a boot uses intermittent pneumatic compression vs “regular compression.” 

Referable to by numerous names: from compression boots, to lymphedema boots or PCD’s (pneumatic compression device) however irrespective of the term used: they possess a few key benefits: 

  • Most notably, they serve to increase blood flow to the designated area alongside preventing pooling 

  • They optimise circulation through gentle pressure 

  • Boots may differentiate from other compression means in that they rise up as far as the knee 

  • Boots make use of pneumatic (air) compression technology, through chambers in the boots that apply intermittent compression upon leg muscles 

  • Result in swelling and inflammation reduction. 

  • Flush accumulated waste/lactic acid from cells 

  • Assist in certain conditions due to the mechanisms described above 

How do compression boots aid circulation? 

Now that we’ve established how critical circulation is, how exactly can compression boots help you with yours? And why are they better than other forms of compression therapy?  

Well:

  1. Increased blood flow (and in turn, blood oxygenation) 

It has been revealed in research that intermittent pneumatic compression stimulates promotion of blood flow, (which will in turn improve circulation critically.) This newer, highly effective modern technology functions in an enhanced manner for this purpose over the compression sock - additionally going up all the way to your knee to affect a large portion of your leg. 

Blood oxygenation will be improved alongside overall circulation and flow. 

  • This may also result in swelling/inflammation reduction if it presents as a result of poor circulation, or vice versa. 

  1. Blood clot prevention

Furthermore, compression boots assist in avoiding blood clots - as they prevent blood pooling and optimise flow. Poor circulation may place you at risk of further conditions: blood clots being a highly critical one. 

This is why it is important to ensure you are addressing or managing any circulatory issues, in order to prevent development of a further problem. 

  1. Symptom alleviation as circulation returns 

As mentioned prior, if you struggle with poor circulation, particularly chronically - you may experience a variety of unpleasant symptoms. 

As your blood flow resumes and circulation returns, the wearer may experience relief of these symptoms to a degree: including pain, numbness and cramping/discomfort. This is alongside addressing any current health issue that is being exacerbated by poor circulation, (or is causing it as a consequence of the condition.) 

  1. User comfort and higher convenience/affordability. 

Other forms of compression treatment - for instance massage or socks, may prove to be less convenient and accessible in both a cost and practical setting than compression boots, or come with compromised effectiveness in comparison. 

Note: 

It is advised you consult your doctor before wearing compression boots to ensure you do not possess conditions that limit the stocking effects nor present adverse effects. 

Takeaway: 

Circulation is an incredibly important aspect of your health. When compromised, you may experience both uncomfortable symptoms and systemic health effects as a consequence. 

Compression therapy has overall long been established to aid in circulatory optimisation: but there are a number of enhanced benefits and compelling advantages to using compression boots for this purpose, over other means. 

Try some today: in order to experience the benefits for yourself firsthand through this developed route. 

Sources:   

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279250/

  2. https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/japplphysiol.00784.2017

  3. https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a34773177/compression-boots-benefits/