Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Heart & Vascular >
  • ... >
  • Our Services >
  • Procedures >
  • Compression Therapy
Heart & Vascular
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Our Services
Artificial Heart & Ventricular Device (VAD)
Atrial Fibrillation (AFIB)
Cardiac Amyloidosis
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardio-Oncology
Cardiogenic Shock
Cardiology
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Coronary Artery Disease
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Heart Failure
Heart Rhythm Disorders
Heart Surgery
Heart Valve Disease
Hypertension
Inherited Heart Disease
Interventional Cardiology
Limb Preservation
Pediatric Cardiology
Preventive Cardiology
Sports & Exercise Cardiology
Structural Heart
Telemedicine
Thoracic Aortic Disease
Vascular Surgery
Vein
Women’s Heart
Wound Healing
Procedures
AFib Ablation
Ablation for Varicose and Spider Veins
Angioplasty (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention)
Aortic Root Surgery
Aortic Valve Surgery
Arterial Bypass Surgery
Cardiac (Heart) Catheterization
Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices
Carotid Artery Angioplasty and Stenting (CAS)
Carotid Endarterectomy
Catheter Ablation
Compression Therapy
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery
Electrical Cardioversion
Emergent Aortic Dissection Repair
Endarterectomy Surgery
Heart Valve Surgery
Holter Monitor (24-Hour Electrocardiogram Monitoring)
Hybrid Ablation
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Insertion
iSVR: Intercostal Surgical Valve Replacement
Left Atrial Appendage Ligation (LAL)
Pacemaker and Defibrillator Lead Extraction
MAZE Procedure for AFib
Microphlebectomy
MitraClip® Therapy
Mitral Valve Surgery
Open Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
Ozaki Procedure for Aortic Valve Replacement
Pacemakers
Percutaneous Atherectomy
Peripheral Angioplasty and Stenting
Peripheral Vascular Ablation
Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Closure
Popliteal Aneurysm Repair
Pulsed Field Ablation
Renal Artery Stenting
Sclerotherapy
Septal Defect Repair
Septal Myectomy
Sternotomy Approach for Aortic Aneurysm Repair
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Procedure
Thoracic Endovascular Repair for Aortic Aneurysms (TEVAR)
Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)
Tricuspid Valve Surgery
Venous Bypass Surgery
Venous Stents
Watchman Device™ for Atrial Fibrillation
Tests
For Patients
For Professionals & Students
Our Locations
Contact Us
Heart & Vascular
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Our Services
Artificial Heart & Ventricular Device (VAD)
Atrial Fibrillation (AFIB)
Cardiac Amyloidosis
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardio-Oncology
Cardiogenic Shock
Cardiology
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Coronary Artery Disease
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Heart Failure
Heart Rhythm Disorders
Heart Surgery
Heart Valve Disease
Hypertension
Inherited Heart Disease
Interventional Cardiology
Limb Preservation
Pediatric Cardiology
Preventive Cardiology
Sports & Exercise Cardiology
Structural Heart
Telemedicine
Thoracic Aortic Disease
Vascular Surgery
Vein
Women’s Heart
Wound Healing
Procedures
AFib Ablation
Ablation for Varicose and Spider Veins
Angioplasty (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention)
Aortic Root Surgery
Aortic Valve Surgery
Arterial Bypass Surgery
Cardiac (Heart) Catheterization
Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices
Carotid Artery Angioplasty and Stenting (CAS)
Carotid Endarterectomy
Catheter Ablation
Compression Therapy
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery
Electrical Cardioversion
Emergent Aortic Dissection Repair
Endarterectomy Surgery
Heart Valve Surgery
Holter Monitor (24-Hour Electrocardiogram Monitoring)
Hybrid Ablation
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Insertion
iSVR: Intercostal Surgical Valve Replacement
Left Atrial Appendage Ligation (LAL)
Pacemaker and Defibrillator Lead Extraction
MAZE Procedure for AFib
Microphlebectomy
MitraClip® Therapy
Mitral Valve Surgery
Open Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
Ozaki Procedure for Aortic Valve Replacement
Pacemakers
Percutaneous Atherectomy
Peripheral Angioplasty and Stenting
Peripheral Vascular Ablation
Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Closure
Popliteal Aneurysm Repair
Pulsed Field Ablation
Renal Artery Stenting
Sclerotherapy
Septal Defect Repair
Septal Myectomy
Sternotomy Approach for Aortic Aneurysm Repair
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Procedure
Thoracic Endovascular Repair for Aortic Aneurysms (TEVAR)
Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)
Tricuspid Valve Surgery
Venous Bypass Surgery
Venous Stents
Watchman Device™ for Atrial Fibrillation
Tests
For Patients
For Professionals & Students
Our Locations
Contact Us

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Compression Therapy

Compression therapy is prescribed when veins in your legs can't return blood adequately to your heart.



Find a Provider


Find a Location

What Is Compression Therapy?

When the veins in your legs become enlarged and can’t return enough blood to your heart, fluid will start to build up.

Doctors prescribe compression therapy to treat these types of vein conditions.

Compression therapy treats a range of vascular conditions, such as:

  • Lymphedema.
  • Varicose veins.
  • Chronic vein disease.

Other conditions compression therapy improves include:

  • DVT.
  • May-Thurner syndrome.
  • Venous ulcers.

For people with venous ulcers, compression therapy helps the healing process by putting constant pressure on the wound. Compression stockings also help those at risk of blood clots.

Before buying or using compression stockings for any of these conditions, make sure you check with your doctor.

Types of Compression therapy

  • Compression stockings — These improve blood flow by applying pressure to your foot, ankle, and calf muscles. They are tightest at the ankles and loosen the further up they go, stopping fluid build-up in your legs. You wear the stockings all day and take them off at night.
  • Compression bandage (ace wrap) — Ace wraps work somewhat like compression stockings. They aid in healing venous ulcers and also reduce swelling in your legs.
  • Compression boot/dressing —This bandage wraps around your lower leg to reduce large amounts of swelling and helps heal venous ulcers. The bandage applies more pressure when you flex your leg.
  • Sequential compression device (SCD) — SCDs are sleeves that wrap around the legs and inflate with air. The increased air pressure on the veins helps restore blood flow to your heart, reducing fluid and swelling in your legs. SCDs also help prevent blood clots. People who have higher-risk health problems, like obesity or diabetes, may benefit more from the use of an SCD. Your care team will often use SCDs around the time of surgery.
  • Lymphedema pump — You use this pump for one hour a day on each lower limb. You should remove compression stockings before using the pump.

What Are The Risks And Complications Of Compression Therapy

You should avoid compression therapy if you have a condition that affects your skin or your ability to feel.

These include:

  • Peripheral neuropathy.
  • Peripheral artery disease (PAD).
  • Skin infections.
  • Dermatitis.

Other risks include improper use of compression stockings. They're usually safe to use when they're smooth, without any wrinkles, and fit properly.

Wrongly applying compression stockings can cause skin damage or, in some cases, act as a tourniquet.

To learn more about compression therapy or find a doctor, contact the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute.

What Should I Expect From Compression Therapy?

During your Compression Therapy

Compression stockings or wraps

If you're using compression stockings, your doctor will show you how to wear them.

Normally, doctors specially fit compression stockings to your legs, and you wear them all day.

In some cases, your doctor may apply compression wraps before prescribing the stockings. Doctors most often use wraps to treat venous ulcers.

SCDs or lymphedema pumps

If you're using an SCD or a lymphedema pump, a doctor will:

  • Apply special compression sleeves to your legs — either your calves, thighs, or both — based on your condition.
  • Attach the sleeves to a control unit and slowly increase the amount of pressure to improve circulation.

Recovery after Compression Therapy

If you use an SCD or an active compression pump, your doctor may prescribe compression stockings to use at home. You should only take them off to bathe and sleep. You shouldn't stop wearing them unless your doctor tells you to.

If your compression therapy is part of post-op recovery or to treat an injury, your doctor will give you a treatment timeline.

If you're wearing compression stockings for varicose veins or a chronic heart problem, you may need to use them long-term.


By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2024-10-01.

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login