A method for vascular exercise involves the subject performing physical exercise to raise his heart rate at least 25% above his normal rate. Then a series of air-inflatable bladders (cuffs) on the subject's limbs are inflated in sequence, starting with the bladder furthest from the trunk, to force blood toward the trunk. Preferably a nose clip feeds oxygen to the subject during the physical exercise, and the subject lies prone with his legs raised, during the inflation of the bladders on the legs.

A pneumomassage articulated sleeve adapted to fit onto a foot and lower leg of a patent afflicted with lympbedema or other disorder resulting in excess body fluid. Enveloped by the sleeve is a series of overlapping inflatable cells which when the sleeve is worn, are sequentially inflated to create massaging forces giving rise to a peristaltic action pumping the excess fluid away from the foot and leg. Along the rear of the sleeve is a row of traisverse slots forming articulation joints, each of which is normally fastened. To accommodate the sleeve to the patent to be treated, a slot in the row is unfastened to define a foot section conforming to the foot of the patient and a leg section hinged to the foot section conforming to the lower leg of the patient.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for improving the circulation of blood through a patient's heart and extremity. The method comprises applying external positive regional pressure on an extremity synchronously with the patient's heartbeat. An adjustable timing cycle is initiated at the QRS complex of the arterial pulse cycle. The timing cycle is based on an average time period between QRS complexes, which is calculated from a measurement of several successive QRS complexes in the patient's heart rate. Pressure pulses are applied in the end-diastolic portion of the arterial pulse cycle to reinforce the pulse that forces blood into the extremity. The pressure is then relieved prior to the next projected QRS complex to enable the next pulse to enter the extremity without undue obstruction, thereby promoting circulation of blood through the extremity. To promote circulation of blood through the heart, compression of the extremity is released shortly before the next projected QRS complex.

A device and method are provided the purpose of increasing arterial blood flow to the lower leg, calf, ankle and foot. The device is a compression boot, or cast, and consists of a mono-compartment bladder enclosed in a non-elastic outer envelope connected to an air compressor with regulator valve, providing fast inflation to pressures over 80 mm Hg, within 0.5 seconds. This high pressure compression phase is sustained for 2 seconds. Decompression occurs rapidly, within 0.5 seconds, by venting a large valve to the atmosphere. During the resulting low pressure phase (pressure 0-30 mm Hg), which lasts between 8-14 seconds, there is a marked increase in arterial blood flow.

A medical apparatus to increase vascular blood flow in the lower extremities of the patient is presented. The medical apparatus is designed to increase vascular blood flow by applying a compressive force to specific regions of the foot, ankle, and/or calf. To achieve this end, the present invention has a foot compression portion and a calf compression portion. The two portions are connected by a severable connection. The severable connection allows the foot portion and calf portion to be used together, or allows the calf portion to be used alone. The foot compression portion is adapted to exert an upward compressive force to the sole of the foot from in front of the heel and extending past the ball of the foot under the phalanges, a downward compressive force in front of the tarsal region of the foot, a downward compressive force in the upper tarsal region of the foot, and a compressive force around the Achilles tendon. The foot compression portion is also adapted to be incapable of applying a downward compressive force in the midtarsal region of the foot. The calf compression portion is designed to apply a compressive force to the dorsal region of the calf.