A method of body manipulation in furtherance of treating lymphedema is provided. A wrap, adapted to fit about a body extremity and having a trunk region, and limb regions, and a plurality of compartments distributed throughout the regions, is provided and applied to the body extremity. Each of the compartments of the plurality of compartments are capable of selective pressurization and depressurization. The body extremity is prepared for receipt of lymph fluid via a first pressurization and depressurization sequence of select compartments within select regions of the regions of the wrap, and lymph fluid is drained from the body extremity via a second pressurization and depressurization sequence of select compartments within select regions of the regions of the wrap, whereby the lymphatic system is stimulated so as to promote readsorption of pooled lymph fluid within surrounding tissue.

This invention relates to venous blood flow in a patient's limb which is promoted by repeating a cycle of sequentially applying compressive pressures against a patient's limb through a flexible, pressurizable sleeve having pressure chambers progressively arranged along the limb in relation to the patient's heart. Specifically, the pressure chambers from the distal to proximal are pressurized until they are at their appropriate pressures so as to collapse the veins in the limb. At the end of the most proximal compression, a foot chamber is compressed at a substantially higher pressure than the other chambers to force a bolus of blood from the foot into the limb causing the collapsed veins to open, the support of the chambers minimizing distention of the veins and enhancing the transmitting of blood up the limb.

A pneumatic cuff assembly fitting over and around the entire maternal abdomen is intermittently inflated to a low and safe pressure in synchrony with the mother's voluntary straining efforts in order to augment the intra-abdominal pressure to assist the delivery of the fetus at the final stage of child birth.

Apparatus for applying pressure to a portion of a body, including a pressure cuff surroundingly engageable with the portion of the body, the cuff including a plurality of individually inflatable cells, including a most distal cell and a most proximal cell, and a pressure controller that inflates at least one of the cells to a non-constant pressure during a given time period. Preferably the pressure fluctuates between predetermined maximum and minimum levels during each time interval of cell inflation. The easing of pressure allows the engorged tissue to which the cell applies pressure to immediately refill between pressure rises to the maximum pressure. The cell thus dynamically decongests the engorged tissue to which the cell applies pressure.

A program of regular vascular exercise involves repeating cycles of blood movement obtained by seating the user in the base portion of the apparatus and clamping a top member shell to the base portion. Under the user's control pressurizing apparatus, controlled by a microcomputer based timing arrangement, inflates and deflates a series of pressure cuffs around each limb to provide a peristaltic-like action which forces blood toward the trunk of the body.