References

There are many scientific publications about medical applications of IPC . Some references are given below.

Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Therapy: A systematic review.
J.L.Feldman et al.    Lymphology 45 (2012) 13-25

Abstract: IPC therapy is an effective modality to reduce the volume of the lymphedemattous limbs alone or in conjunction with other modalities of therapy such as decongestive therapy. However, there is no consensus on the frequency of treatment parameters for IPC devices. We undertook a systematic review of contemporary peer-reviewed literature (2004-2011) to evaluate the evidence for use of IPC in the treatment of lymphedema. In select patients, IPC use may provide an acceptable home-based treatment modality in addition to wearing compression garments.

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Intermittent pneumatic compression acts synergistically with manual lymphatic drainage in complex decongestive physiotherapy for breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema.
G. Szolnoky, B. Lakatos, T. Keskeny, E. Varga, M. Varga, A. Dobozy, L. Kemény;  Lymphology 42 (2009) 188-194

Abstract: The application of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) as a part of complex decongestive physiotherapy (CDP) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the combination of IPC with manual lymph drainage (MLD) could improve CDP treatment outcomes in women with secondary lymphedema after breast cancer treatment. A randomized study was undertaken with 13 subjects receiving MLD (60 min) and 14 receiving MLD (30 min) plus IPC (30 min) followed by standardized components of CDP including multilayered compression bandaging, physical exercise, and skin care 10 times in a 2-week-period. Efficacy of treatment was evaluated by limb volume reduction and a subjective symptom questionnaire at end of the treatment, and one and two months after beginning treatment. The two groups had similar demographic and clinical characteristics. Mean reductions in limb volumes for each group at the end of therapy, and at one and two months were 7.93% and 3.06%, 9.02% and 2.9%, and 9.62% and 3.6%, respectively (p<0.05 from baseline for each group and also between groups at each measurement). Although a significant decrease in the subjective symptom survey was found for both groups compared to baseline, no significant difference between the groups was found at any time point. The application of IPC with MLD provides a synergistic enhancement of the effect of CDP in arm
volume reduction.

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Effect of Air Compression Physiotherapy
Daesung Maref   (Internal Publication)

Abstract: An overview is given of the application of IPC in the physiotherapy practice.

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