cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccCOMPRESS

Compress is the application of water at any temperature by means of a

cloth, a sponge, sponiophyline, or other suitable medium.

HISTORY:
IN 19th century Benjamin rush used a compresss of clay with
excellent results. For ordinary purpose a linen cloth of two to four
thickness and of proper size or cheese cloth doubled four to eight
thickness, renders the best service.

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPRESS ACCORDING TO

TEMPERATURE:
1.c £ERY COLD (55 degree or less )
2.c COOL OR COOLING ( 60 to 70 degree F)
3.c WARM OR NEUTRAL ( 92 TO 98 )
4.c HOT (102 degree to 110)
5.c £ERY HOT ( 110 degree to 160 )
6.c ALTERNATE (very hot and very cold in alteration)
7.c RE£ULSI£E COMPRESS(short cold following prolonged very
cold )
8.c HOT AND COLD(simultaneous)
9.c HOT AND COLD PACK
10.cHEALING or STIMULATING (applied cold, more or less
protected and prolonged until warmed by the body heat)
11.cTHE PROXIMAL COMPRESS
12.cIRRIGATING COMPRESS

TYPES OF COMPRESS

£ERY COLD COMPRESS:

Requirement:
Cloth, ice cubes.
Temperature: 55 degree to 65 degree or less
Duration: 15 ± 20 minutes

METHOD:
 ác The folded cloth saturated with ice water and the low
temperature may be maintained by bits of ice placed
between the folds of the compress.
ác Ice cap, the rubber or aluminum coil or a specially
constructed rubber sac through which a stream of
water at a low temperature is made to flow
continuously a rubber bag . filed with broken ice or a
rubber sack containing a cooling mixture.
ác In tropical countries a very satisfactory substitute
ammonium nitrate is used for maintaining the cool
temperature

Ammonium nitrate liquid form

Solid form

Quarts of water temperature of water 41

Temperature 70 degree F

Cold compress = carbonic acid gas condensed in the form

of snow (i.e) co 2 compress.

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS:
Depend upon the length of the application and part

1.short very cold compress- primary contraction followed

by dilatation of surface vessels and of the visceral vascular
area in reflexly relation

Increase in the internal viscous

Relieve passive congestion

(Encourage leucocytosis )
2. Prolonged very cold application- spasm of surface vessels
and contraction of reflexly related internal part

3. Continuous cold causes contraction ± cyanosis in the

part+ benumbing effect.
 4. Continuous cold causes contraction of the arteries of the
cooled parts
5. Prolonged cold application (15 ± 30 minutes) over head ±
slow pulse and increase blood pressure
6. Continuous cold application ± lower the heart activity
7. £ery cold application- to head ± decrease body
temperature
8. short cold application: to head (1 ± 5 minis) excites
cerebral activity through reaction

THERAPEUTIC APPLICATION:
1. very cold compress ± local inflammation in joints inflamed
wounds