Rithalia SV, Edwards J, Sayegh A.
Effect of intermittent pneumatic compression on lower limb oxygenation.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1988 Sep;69(9):665-7

Department of Orthopaedic Mechanics, University of Salford, UK.
The effect of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) of the lower limbs on
transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcPO2) was studied in 14 healthy volunteers and
the same number of elderly patients. The oxygen sensor was calibrated at 37C in
room air. This temperature was also used for measurements. Compression pressure
in the IPC garment was standardized to 50mmHg inflation and zero mmHg deflation.
Cycle time was set to 30 seconds inflation and 30 seconds deflation. It was found
that using this combination of pressure and cycle times, tcPO2 fell during
compression in all subjects and returned to the precompression level after the
treatment. Although reactive hyperemia of various intensities occurred in some
subjects after compression, tcPO2 did not rise significantly above the resting
level. This suggests that the symptomatic improvement reported by patients
treated with IPC was more likely to be due to enhanced removal of metabolites and
supply of nutrients than to an improvement in leg oxygenation.