How it works
A pair of compression boots, a massage gun and a heated belt do not work in the same way at all. Here, without jargon, is what really happens when you use them — and what each one can or cannot do.
Pneumatic compression
This is the principle behind compression boots and pressotherapy. The boot contains a series of independent air chambers, stacked from the foot to the thigh. A pump inflates them one after the other, from bottom to top, then deflates them in the same order. The cycle repeats throughout the session.
This wave motion mechanically reproduces what your calves do when you walk: with each step, the muscle contracts and pushes venous blood upwards. This is known as the calf muscle pump. Sitting or lying down, this pump no longer works — the boot takes over.
What it changes in practice
The sensation most often described is that of lighter legs at the end of the session, after a day on your feet or a long outing. Twenty minutes is enough: beyond that, there is nothing more to gain, and the skin ends up uncomfortable.
The settings that matter
- The number of chambers: from 4 to 8 depending on the model. The more there are, the more progressive and enveloping the wave.
- The pressure: expressed in mmHg. Always start at the lowest level. High pressure is not more effective, just less comfortable.
- The mode: kneading, continuous compression, relaxation. It is mainly a matter of preference.
Percussion massage
This is the principle behind the massage gun. A head performs a rapid back-and-forth movement, between 1,800 and 3,200 strokes per minute depending on the speed, over an amplitude of a few millimetres.
Where the boot works the whole leg passively, the gun does the opposite: it targets a precise area — a calf, a trapezius, a thigh — but requires you to hold it and move it.
Using it well
- Move slowly, without pressing: the weight of the device is enough.
- One to two minutes per area, no more.
- Avoid joints, the spine and bony areas.
- The round head suits large muscle groups, the bullet head targeted areas, the fork is used either side of a tendon — never on it.
Heat
Heated belts, cushions, neck massagers: heat works differently. It mobilises nothing, it relaxes. A temperature of 40 to 50 °C applied to the lower back or the neck helps muscles release and makes the area more supple.
Two rules: never fall asleep with a heated device, and never use it on a numb or damaged area.
Electrostimulation
A TENS electrostimulator sends micro electrical impulses through adhesive electrodes stuck to the skin. You feel tingling, then a slight contraction depending on the intensity chosen.
It is the most regulated type of device in our range: it is not suitable for people with a pacemaker or an electronic implant, and must never be applied to the heart, the head or damaged skin. Read the manual before the first session.
Passive support
Knee supports, lumbar belts, wrist braces, compression stockings: none of these products "acts" in the active sense. They mechanically constrain an area — they limit a range of motion, spread a load, or apply constant pressure.
Their value lies entirely in the adjustment: too loose, the support is useless; too tight, it becomes uncomfortable and counterproductive. Take the time to adjust the straps standing up, in the position in which you will wear the product.
What these devices do not do
No product in this shop cures, heals or prevents any condition. They are comfort and wellness items. They do not replace medical advice, a session with a healthcare professional or prescribed treatment.
If pain persists, worsens or keeps coming back, it is a doctor you need to see — not a device you need to buy.