In modern medicine, Compression Therapy, as a kind of physical therapy, is getting more and more attention because of its high efficiency and wide application. By applying appropriate pressure to the human body surface, compression therapy has achieved remarkable effect in preventing or inhibiting the hyperplasia of skin scar and preventing limb swelling, and has become an important technique in occupational therapy.

The history of compression therapy dates back to 1607, when Fabricine first suggested that applying pressure to scars could improve hand function. Then, in 1835, Rayer successfully applied pressure therapy to the treatment of keloids, laying the foundation for the development of pressure therapy. In the 21st century, with the progress of science and technology, compression therapy has been widely used in the prevention and treatment of many diseases such as hand edema after hemiplegia, hand trauma, burn rehabilitation and lymphedema after breast cancer surgery.

The main mechanism of compression therapy is to promote blood return through local mechanical pressure and cause certain hypoxia, so as to control local edema or scar hyperplasia. Specifically, the application of external pressure can increase the hydrostatic pressure of the interstitial fluid in the extravascular and extravlymphatic interstitial fluid, forcing the interstitial fluid to return to the veins and lymphatic vessels, limiting the fluid's entry into the interstitial tissue, thus limiting tissue swelling, proliferation, and deformation.

Compression treatment can be applied in a variety of ways, including bandage compression, pressure clothing compression, and pressure pads and braces (often used with pressure clothing). Among them, pressure clothing is widely used in the treatment of burn scars, postoperative scars and swelling, prevention of deep vein thrombosis, lymphedema and other diseases because of its soft, smooth, good water absorption and different extensibility materials can be selected according to the condition.

With the popularization of microcomputer technology, oppression therapy has also entered the instrument era. The air pressure therapy machine widely used in clinic now compresses and relaxes the limbs from the end of the hands and feet to the center of the trunk repeatedly through multi-cavity air bags, deeply massages the muscle tissue, compresses the vascular valve to promote the return of blood and lymph, improves the local blood circulation, and drives the patency of the entire blood circulation system. This treatment can not only accelerate the absorption of metabolic waste and inflammatory factors in the blood, achieve the purpose of restoring muscle fatigue, relieving nerve and muscle pain, but also prevent the formation of deep vein thrombosis, promote circulation in the limbs, eliminate swelling and relieve pain.

However, compression therapy is not suitable for all patients. Compression therapy is contraindicated in patients with infectious wounds, acute episodes of vasculitis, or deep venous thrombosis of the extremities. In addition, when applying pressure therapy, reasonable pressure intensity and treatment time should be selected according to the specific situation of the patient, and high pressure levels should be selected at the beginning to avoid causing discomfort to the patient.

In clinical practice, compression therapy has achieved remarkable results. For example, for patients undergoing hip replacement for lower limb femoral neck fracture, postoperative treatment with air wave pressure circulation can significantly reduce lower limb swelling and promote the recovery of patients' independent walking ability. In the field of burn plastic surgery, compression therapy has also been proved to be one of the most effective ways to prevent and treat hyperplastic scars.

In general, compression therapy is playing an increasingly important role in modern medicine because of its economy, effectiveness, wide acceptance and ease of operation. In the future, with the continuous advancement of medical technology and the continuous innovation of treatment methods, oppression treatment is expected to bring benefits to more patients, helping them better recover their health and quality of life.