간헐적공기압박치료의 기전과 효과

유지성¹^,^*

Basic Concept and Clinical Evidence of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Therapy

Ji Sung Yoo¹^,^*

¹국립암센터 재활의학과

¹Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea

^*Address for correspondence: Ji Sung Yoo, MD, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, 10408, Republic of Korea, Tel: +82-31-920-1738, Fax: +82-31-920-2798, E-mail: jsyoo@ncc.re.kr

ⓒ Copyright 2026 Korean Society of Lymphology and Lymphedema. This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Received: May 05, 2025; Accepted: May 20, 2025

Published Online: May 17, 2025

Abatract

Intermittent pneumatic compression therapy (IPC) is a non-surgical compression treatment option for lymphedema, used either alone or in combination with complex decongestive therapy (CDT). Clinical evidence suggests IPC can improve lymphatic flow and reduce limb volume, with additional benefits in quality of life and health economics. However, studies examining the combined use of IPC and CDT show mixed results, with some reporting enhanced outcomes and others finding no significant difference. There is currently no standardized guideline for IPC parameters such as pressure, frequency, and duration, leading to variability in clinical application. In conclusion, IPC is a valuable tool in lymphedema management, particularly for patients unable to fully comply with CDT. However, the lack of standardized protocols underscores the need for further research to establish evidence-based guidelines for IPC use.

Keywords: Lymphedema; Intermittent Pneumatic Compression; Compression Therapy