Veinoplus... What is it?



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veinoplus



Veinoplus is an example of a specific brand of an electrostimulation agent used for the treatment of Venous Disease, throughout a range of different disease levels. The device's website and user manual states that Veinoplus has clinically proven results in both prevention and care at varying levels of the 'Venous Disease Cascade'.

So what exactly is Venous Disease?
Venous Disease refers to a range of disease states that have a central component of damaged or abnormal veins which results in a reduced ability to pump blood back to the heart and an increase in venous pressure. This increase in venous pressure further stretches the veins and increases the backflow of blood, with possible 'leakiness' of the veins. A common result of the venous insufficiency is odema, commonly referred to as swelling, of the lower limbs (1).


Risk factors for Venous Disease include:

• Pregnancy
• Obesity
• Prolonged standing
• Illness
• Surgery
• Previous history of blood clotting

(Heit, Silverstein, Mohr, Petterson, O'Fallon & Melton III, 2000)

Some examples of venous disease that Veinoplus particularly helps are venous hypertension, chronic reflux, ulcers and odema (2).

Circumstances in which the use of Veinoplus is contraindicated include:

• Implanted cardiac pacemakers
• Patients undergoing anti-cancer therapy

Use in the following situations should be proceeded with caution:

• Acute venous thrombosis
• Tendency to bleed induced by anti-clotting treatment
• Sciatica or any other neuralgia
• Inflammation, infection, skin lesions or severe varicose veins (in which electrodes can be placed next to, but not on, the affected area.
• Only use on legs and possibly arms, not any other body parts. (Instruction manual).

The Veinoplus machine is easily accessible and safe for the target audience. It is available to purchase online, accessible from the OAPL catalogue (3) at a price of approximately $350. It is pocket sized, safe and realitvely simple to use. It is an electrostimulation device that triggers deep calf muscles contractions in order to aid venous return to the heart. It is said to be clinically proven at improving the symptoms of Venous Disease. Although the website says it is clinically proven, the extent of the literature is certainly not vast.

The products website has a comprehensive overview of the product, including an acronym for its action, PROPER as shown below:

• PUMPING: Results in a rapid decrease of blood volume in lower limb veins and resultant removal of blood stasis.
• REFLUX: Inhibits reflux in deep and superficial veins.
• OUTFLOW: Significantly alters venous outflow from lower limbs (volume and velocity).
• PAIN: Immediate and long-lasting analgesic effect.
• EDEMA: Reduces odema in those patients with venous insufficiency.
• REMAINS: Produces an effect that remains and improves user's quality of life.

References:

1. http://www.dukehealth.org/services/vein_clinic/about/what_is_venous_disease

2. http://www.veinoplus.com/ 


3. http://www.oapl.com.au/Physiotherapy_Catalogue_V2.10(web).pdf


4. Heit, J.A., Silverstein, M.D., Mohr, D.N., Petterson, T.M., O'Fallon, M. & Melton III, J. (2000). Risk factors for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. A population-based case-control study. Arch Intern Med, 160, 809-815.