Compression Therapy: How It Works and Who It Helps

Compression therapy sounds more complicated than it is. You put on some boots, they inflate and deflate in a rhythmic pattern, and your legs feel noticeably better when you’re done. But there’s real science behind why it works.

What Happens During a Session

Our compression boots wrap around your legs from feet to hips. They inflate in sections, starting at your feet and working upward. Each section holds pressure briefly, then releases as the next section inflates.

This creates a wave-like massage that moves fluid through your legs. The sequence mimics what your muscles do naturally when you walk or exercise-but more consistently and with more pressure.

A typical session lasts 20 to 30 minutes. Most people read, scroll their phones, or just close their eyes and relax.

The Science Behind It

Your lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump like your heart. It relies on muscle contractions to move lymph fluid through your body. When you’re sedentary or recovering from exercise, this fluid can pool in your extremities.

Compression therapy creates external pressure that manually moves this fluid. This reduces swelling, clears metabolic waste from your muscles, and brings fresh blood to the area.

Research shows pneumatic compression can:

• Reduce muscle soreness after exercise
• Decrease swelling in the legs
• Improve range of motion
• Speed up recovery between training sessions

Who Benefits Most

Athletes and active people. After a hard workout, your muscles are filled with metabolic byproducts. Compression helps flush these out faster than rest alone. Many professional teams use compression as a standard part of their recovery protocols.

People who sit or stand all day. Office workers, nurses, teachers-anyone whose job keeps them in one position. Your legs accumulate fluid throughout the day. Compression reverses that pooling.

Travelers. Long flights or drives cause fluid to settle in your lower legs. A compression session after travel can make a real difference in how you feel.

Anyone recovering from an injury. Swelling slows healing. Compression reduces swelling. It’s a simple equation, and it’s why physical therapists often recommend it.

What It Feels Like

Most people describe it as a firm, rhythmic squeeze. Not painful, but definitely present. You’ll feel the pressure move up your legs in waves.

Some people feel a bit lightheaded when they first stand up-your blood is redistributing after being pushed around for 30 minutes. This passes quickly.

The immediate effect is that your legs feel lighter. Less heavy, less tight. If you came in sore, you’ll leave less sore.

When to Use It

Compression works well as part of a larger recovery routine. We often recommend it at the beginning of a session-it gets blood flowing and prepares your body for other modalities like sauna or cold plunge.

It’s also effective on its own. If you had a tough leg day at the gym, a compression session the next morning can cut your recovery time significantly.

There’s no real limit to how often you can use it. Some people come in daily. Others use it a few times a week after hard training sessions.

What Compression Doesn’t Do

We want to be honest about limitations. Compression therapy isn’t a miracle cure. It won’t replace sleep, nutrition, or proper training. It won’t fix an injury that needs medical attention.

What it does is accelerate your body’s natural recovery processes. It’s a tool-a good one-but it works best as part of a complete approach to recovery.

Practical Details

Sessions are 20-30 minutes. You stay fully clothed-just remove your shoes. We have adjustable pressure settings, so tell us if it feels too intense or not intense enough.

Compression pairs well with other modalities. A common stack: start with compression to get blood moving, then hit sauna or cold plunge. Or use it standalone after a hard workout. Either way works.