
Antiedematous Effect Promoted by Occlusion of Legs with Compressive Socks
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Sakugawa et al, 2020 [randomized controlled trial; n = 30; male and female; mean age of 50.7±12.0/59.1±13.7] aimed to investigate whether the use of a topical occluding garment made with synthetic fibers embedded with powdered ceramic materials could be beneficial to patients suffering from edema of lower limb extremities. The bioceramic (BC) group wore compressive socks made of fabrics with embedded ceramic powder for 8 h a day for 28 days. The placebo group wore compressive socks of the same material without ceramic powder. The efficacy of the treatment was quantified through weekly plethysmography measurements. In addition, pain relief was evaluated through a visual analog scale (VAS). Data showed a statistically significant reduction in the edema volume and pain relief for the BC group compared with the placebo group. Therefore, authors concluded that the topical occlusive therapy with compressive socks containing infrared-emitting ceramic particulate in its fabrics showed that they were more beneficial than the placebo garment in the treatment of edema of the inferior member extremities as well as in relief of associated pain.