Knight MT, Dawson R.
Effect of intermittent compression of the arms on deep venous thrombosis in the legs.
Lancet 1976 Dec 11;2(7998):1265-8

Despite the presence of venostasis in the legs, intermittent compression of the
arms during and after surgery reduced the incidence of deep venous thrombosis
(D.V.T.) in the legs to half that in control patients and maintained blood
fibrinolytic activity at preoperative values. It is suggested that the release of
fibrinolytic activators is essential to the prophylactic action of pneumatic leggings.