Physical therapy in patients with chronic venous insufficiency

If physical therapy measures in the form of prescription compression stocki ngs and supervised outpatient vascular exercise programmes ore commenced at an early stage, subjective complaints con be alleviated and ankle flexibil ity and venous drainage improved. Disabling congestive diseases such as der matolipofasciitis and ulcus cruris can be avoided. Once chronic venous cong estion has resulted in joint capsule atrophy, stiffening of the ankle and m uscular atrophy in the lower leg, expensive therapeutic measures involving professional physiotherapeutic care became unavoidable. In our own experien ce, physiotherapy is most effective in combination with biomechanical stimu lation therapy. Once the patient's equine gait has been eliminated, convent ional walking exercise can gradually restore a physiological gait. After su ccessful physiotherapy, an outpatient vascular exercise programme combined with optimized compression therapy contributes decisively to long-term ther apeutic success in patients with advanced chronic venous insufficiency. Sim ilar to coronary sports, vascular exercise programmes ore covered by public health insurance. Along with compression therapy, they represent an effici ent, cost-effective basic therapy for chronic venous insufficiency.