Compression sleeve augmenting calf muscle pump
View Patent ↗A method of selecting and using a compression garment is disclosed. The method may include selecting a garment comprising a compression sleeve including a proximal end and a distal end. The compression sleeve may comprise material having one of short-stretch function and inelastic function. The method may include donning the garment by inserting a limb of an animal or human through an opening in the proximal end and positioning the compression sleeve such that the material extends over at least a portion of a muscle mass of the limb. When the muscle mass is activated, the compression sleeve may augment the venous muscle return produced by the muscle mass.
1. A method comprising:
selecting a garment comprising
a compression sleeve including a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end having an opening, and
the compression sleeve comprising material having one of short-stretch function and inelastic function;
donning the garment by inserting a limb of an animal or human through the opening and positioning the compression sleeve such that the material extends over at least a portion of a muscle mass of the limb; and
generating, by the compression sleeve after the donning, a reverse gradient within the limb wherein less compression is applied distal to the muscle mass than is applied to the muscle mass; and
augmenting, by the compression sleeve, the venous muscle return of the limb.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the limb comprises a leg of a human and the muscle mass comprises the calf muscle of the leg.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the compression sleeve comprises a first portion and a second portion, the material forming the second portion.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the donning comprises inserting a leg of a human user through the opening and positioning the compression sleeve such that the first portion is distal to the second portion and the second portion extends over at least a portion of the calf muscle of the leg.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the donning comprises positioning the garment such that the garment extends from a distal extreme above an ankle of the leg to a proximal extreme below a knee of the leg.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the donning comprises positioning the material to extend completely circumferentially around the leg.
7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the donning comprises positioning the material to extend less than completely circumferentially around the leg.
8. A method comprising:
selecting a garment comprising
a compression sleeve including a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end having an opening, and
the compression sleeve comprising a first portion and a second portion;
donning the compression sleeve by inserting a leg of a user through the opening and positioning the compression sleeve such that the first portion is distal to the second portion and the second portion extends over at least a portion of the calf muscle of the leg;
applying, by the first portion after the donning when the calf muscle is activated, a first pressure to the leg;
applying, by the second portion after the donning when the calf muscle is activated, a second pressure to the leg, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure; and
augmenting, by the compression sleeve, the venous calf muscle return of the leg.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second pressure is at least 5 mm Hg greater than the first pressure.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second pressure is at least 8 mm Hg.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second pressure is at least 15 mm Hg.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second pressure is at least 30 mm Hg.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second portion comprises material having one of short-stretch function and inelastic function.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the donning comprises positioning the garment such that the garment extends from a distal extreme above an ankle of the leg to a proximal extreme below a knee of the leg.
15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the donning comprises positioning the second portion to extend completely circumferentially around the leg.
16. The method of claim 8 , wherein the donning comprises positioning the second portion to extend less than completely circumferentially around the leg.
17. A method comprising:
selecting a garment comprising
a compression sleeve including a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end having an opening, and
a band;
donning the compression sleeve by
inserting a leg of a user through the opening,
positioning the compression sleeve over at least a portion of the calf of the leg, and
positioning the band over the compression sleeve;
applying, by the compression sleeve after the donning, a first pressure to the leg;
applying, by the band after the donning, a second pressure to the leg, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure; and
augmenting, by the garment, the venous calf muscle return of the leg.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the band comprises material having one of short-stretch function and inelastic function.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the donning comprises positioning the garment such that the garment extends from a distal extreme above an ankle of the leg to a proximal extreme below a knee of the leg.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the donning comprises positioning the band to extend completely circumferentially around the leg.