PHYSICAL THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY

If physical therapy like compression stockings and supervised outpatie nt vascular exercise programmes are begun early, subjective complaints can be alleviated and ankle flexibility and venous drainage can be im proved. Incapacitating congestive diseases such as dermatolipofasciiti s and ulcus cruris can be avoided. Once chronic venous congestion has led to joint capsule atrophy, stiffening of the ankle and muscular atr ophy in the lower leg, expensive therapeutic measures involving profes sional physiotherapeutic care become unavoidable. In our own experienc e physiotherapy is most effective in combination with biomechanical st imulation therapy. Once the patient's equine gait has been eliminated, conventional walking exercise can gradually restore a physiological g ait. After sucessful physiotherapy, an outpatient vascular exercise pr ogramme combined with optimized compression therapy contribute decisiv ely to long-term therapeutic success in patients with advanced chronic venous insufficiency. Like coronary sports, vascular exercise program mes are covered by public health insurance. Along with compression the rapy, they represent an efficient, cost-effective basic therapy for ch ronic venous insufficiency.