About The Arteries and Veins:

Arteries deliver fuel in the form of blood and plasma, veins remove deoxygenated blood, water, CO2 and other metabolic waste molecules from the muscle and surrounding tissue. Arteries pump and veins do not. Arteries have the benefit of the heart to pressurize the system and have smooth muscle that rhythmically pump blood throughout the body and into the capillary where O2, water, nutrients such as proteins, glucose, amino acids, hormones, minerals, everything a cell needs to survive and synthesize energy is delivered. Water, CO2, Lactic Acid (in muscle tissue) and a myriad of other metabolic waste molecules are the absorbed into the veins or lymphatic system. Vein take up 80 to 90% of the fluid and micro-molecular waste. Veins rely of skeletal muscle activity to move the deoxygenated blood and fluid back to the heart, lungs and organs for processing. The Calf muscle and the bottom of the Foot are the primary pumps in our legs. Exercise is essential to remove large amounts of fluid and waste from tissue and muscles. What keeps the venous system moving while at rest is breathing and contraction of the abdominal respiratory muscles. Replicating the muscle pumps in the legs, while at rest, is key to enhancing recovery.

After Exertion:

When the athlete stops exercising, venous return decreases significantly, slowing the evacuation of Lactic Acid, Carbon Dioxide, other Metabolic Waste and water. The challenge is to continue the process of clearing these elements after exercise has stopped so as to NOT allow the accumulation of these waste to sit in the muscle for long periods of time. By clearing these elements quickly, better O2 perfusion occurs as does the delivery of plasma through capillary action of blood flow. Plasma and O2, are the lifeblood of health cells. The more cells get, the healthier they are. The accumulation of Lactic Acid, Carbon Dioxide, water and the other metabolic waste blocks the perfusion of new “food” to the cells. Lactic Acid clears relatively quickly (in a matter of a couple of hours or less), but many of the elements in Metabolic Waste can take a much longer time, so long that soreness can increase or even onset up to 48 hours later. Thus, clearing these elements quickly and efficiently through improved and energized venous return is essential for healthy cell proliferation and activity.

Active Recovery Vs. Passive Recovery

Active Recovery is generally defined as light aerobic exercise such brisk walk, jog, low intensity cycling, some forms of yoga, any exercise that is minimal in intensity. The point is to clear lactic acid quickly and energize the all levels of the venous system. Because this type of recovery involves exercise, it is relatively poor at respiratory recovery and processing large quantities of CO2 as well as restoring Glucose, amino acid levels and replenishing other essential elements in the muscle.

Passive Recovery employs R.I.C.E. - Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. Rest allows the muscles to be replenished with glucose, amino acids and other essential elements relatively quickly especially in conjunction with ice baths and Hot-Cold contrast therapy. Ice and contrast therapy is the passive technique to keep the blood flow energized to delivery larger quantity of nutrients to the muscles. Compression in the form of Hydrotherapy or compression garments serves recovery in two ways, first to increase pressure in the interstitial space and increase osmosis of fluid into the venous system and secondly to increase CO2 uptake into the blood. Elevation further promotes venous flow by means of gravity. 

The RecoveryPump® delivers the best of both worlds as it temporarily increases circulation at all levels of the venous system, Deep Veins, Saphenous veins, Superficial and Perforator veins and reduces soreness and fatigue, simulates muscle massage all while at REST, using COMPRESSION and can be done with legs ELEVATED.

The RecoveryPump® mimics the action of the Calf and Foot Pumps in our legs when we exercise. The nature of the pumping action of the RecoveryPump is considered Active Recovery as stated in the science and studies conducted on the subject of Sports Recovery (see studies on this subject at the top of the page) but achieves the benefits of Passive Recovery because the therapy is conducted at rest. Until Pneumatic Compression was introduced to endurance sports, Active Compression involved light exercise, preferably weight bearing ambulation. Even this level of exerciseaccompanied with passive compression (Garments), takes considerable time to clear the muscle because there is significant delivery of “fuel” from the cardio-vascular response to this activity.

Using Active Compression for Recovery- temporarily increase circulation and reduce soreness and fatigue. Massages muscles.

Using Passive Compression (Garments) for Recovery- prevents pooling of blood and fluid, increases circulation in superficial veins, helps to maintain gains throughout the day. 

Used together makes for a great combination!