A comparison between the treatment effectiveness of intermittent pneumatic compression, complex decongestive physiotherapy, and compression stockings implementations on patients with chronic venous insufficiency

This study involved 42 individuals with the aim of examining the effects of different physiotherapy methods on patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Edema were measured by Leg Q Meter using limb circumference and pain assessment was done with ?Visual Analogue Scale?. General quality of life was measured by ?Nottingham Health Profile?, disease specific quality of life was determined by using ?Venous Insufficiency Epidemiological and Economic StudyQuality of Life/Symptoms? and depression state assessment was done by using ?Beck Depression Scale?. Individuals were divided into three groups and the first group was included in the complex decongestive physiotherapy program (CDP) consisting of manual lymphatic drainage, skin care, compression bandage and exercise; the second group was included in consisting of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPK), skin care, compression stockings (CS) and exercise, finally the third group was included in a program consisting of CS, skin care and exercise. All individuals were applied the treatment program for 4 weeks 5 days a week. After 4 week the protection phase has begun and a ready made below knee compression stocking were ordered. It was seen as a result of the in-group assessments that, edema has decreased the most respectively in CDP, IPK, and lastly in the stocking group. Having the pains and quality of life of individuals compared with those prior to treatment, most effective changes were seen respectively in CDP and IPK groups, while no change was seen among stocking group. It was ascertained from the control measure that, use of CS improves quality of life and the pain symptom. CDP has been found the most effective method in decreasing edema and concurrently in improving the quality of life. While long-term use of CS causes increase in quality of life, awareness of the individuals with CVI should be raised for putting on CS and they should further be recommended to apply by any means to physiotherapy so as to decrease disease-bound venous symptoms. Keywords: Chronic venous insufficiency, Edema, Complex decongestive physiotherapy, Intermittent pneumatic compression, Compression stockings