Comparing Pressotherapy, Compression Boots, and Lymphatic Drainage for Recovery

Compression therapy has become one of the most recognized wellness tools today. You’ll find athletes swearing by recovery boots, medspas offering “detox” compression sessions, and surgeons recommending lymphatic drainage post-procedure. But here’s the challenge: not all compression systems are the same.

Some focus on circulation and muscle recovery. Others target the lymphatic system to reduce swelling and support healing. For businesses in wellness, aesthetics, or performance, understanding the difference isn’t just academic—it determines which technology will truly serve your clients.

The Three Main Pneumatic Compression Therapies

1. Compression Boots & Leggings

• How they work: Inflatable sleeves wrap around the legs and sequentially inflate from the feet upward.

• Purpose: Improve venous return, clear metabolic waste, and reduce soreness.

• Where they’re used: Sports recovery lounges, gyms, and with athletes aiming to bounce back faster after training.

• Takeaway: Best suited for circulation and muscle fatigue relief, not comprehensive lymphatic drainage.

2. Pressotherapy

• How it works: Multi-zone garments (legs, arms, abdomen) inflate to apply rhythmic compression across the body.

• Purpose: Stimulates lymphatic flow, supports detoxification, and aids post-surgical swelling reduction.

• Where it’s used: Medspas, post-surgical recovery centers, and wellness clinics offering detox or slimming programs.

• Takeaway: Broader than boots, with a stronger emphasis on lymphatic health and aesthetics.

3. Compression-Based Lymphatic Therapy (Mechanical Lymphatic Drainage)

• How it works: Advanced pneumatic suits use programmable, sequential pressure across multiple body zones.

• Purpose: Mimics manual lymphatic drainage—reducing swelling, supporting immune function, promoting detoxification, and accelerating post-surgical recovery.

• Where it’s used: Surgical recovery, integrative wellness centers, and businesses focused on whole-body rejuvenation.

• Takeaway: The most comprehensive of the three, centered on full-body lymphatic benefits rather than circulation alone.

Pressotherapy, Compression Boots, and Lymphatic Drainage for Recovery: How They Differ at a Glance

Type	Focus	Coverage	Audience
Boots	Circulation	Legs only	Athletes
Pressotherapy	Lymphatic & aesthetic	Legs, arms, and abdomen	Aesthetics & wellness
Lymphatic Drainage	Full-body therapeutic support	Legs, arms, and abdomen	Recovery, wellness, holistic care

Why Many Businesses Need More Than One

Gyms and athletic facilities gravitate toward boots because they address soreness and recovery. Medspas and surgical practices lean on lymphatic systems for their swelling- and detox-focused benefits. Integrated wellness centers often require both - because client needs vary widely.

For businesses, that usually means buying multiple devices - or making a choice that leaves some client needs unmet.

For businesses, the challenge is clear: clients often need more than one type of recovery solution. Gyms may focus on circulation, medspas on lymphatic health, and wellness centers on a mix of both. Traditionally, meeting all these needs required investing in multiple devices—often at significant cost.

How BH Labs Helps Businesses Bridge the Gap

At BH Labs, we help wellness, recovery, and medical professionals integrate evidence-based technologies into their businesses. Our program combines training, support, and proven recovery devices—ranging from hyperbaric oxygen therapy and red light therapy to PEMF, infrared sauna, and lymphatic compression.

The BH Labs Lymphatic Recovery Suit is a premium, adaptable system that incorporates the benefits of compression boots, pressotherapy, and compression-based lymphatic drainage into one device.

• Premium Adaptability: One system can be programmed for circulation-focused recovery, aesthetic lymphatic sessions, or full-body therapeutic drainage.

• Modular Design: Arms, legs, and abdomen can be used together or independently.

• Business Efficiency: Instead of buying three systems, you get one that meets the needs of athletes, post-surgical clients, and wellness enthusiasts alike.

  
  

For businesses, that means greater versatility, higher ROI, and a service menu that adapts seamlessly to different client goals.