Use of the VACO device

Nowadays, when the critical factors for the success of physical therapy are the patient’s attitude to therapy and the therapist’s attitude to the equipment, it is becoming increasingly crucial to use units that make the work easier and improve the effectiveness of the treatment performed. Such units include the VACO-type unit.

VACO devices – intended use

The VACO – type unit is used as a complementary unit to electrotherapy treatments, but in many countries this therapy is used as a stand-alone physical treatment.

Practical reasons for using a VACO-type apparatus include:

• facilitating electrode attachment in hard-to-reach areas
• accelerating the electrode mounting process
• providing contact between the electrode and the skin on anatomically inclined areas
• eliminating the need for problematic belts, e.g. for therapy of the spine (the patient often has to perform difficult manoeuvres with one’s own body to fit the velcro belt under the torso)
• eliminating the need for sandbags, which fall off when the patient moves, while performing spinal treatment
• the fact that the vacuum massage element is positively perceived by the patient, which improves one’s attitude to therapy

Substantive reasons for using VACO include:

• improved circulation resulting in the delivery of more nutrients and oxygen
• increased activity of intracellular processes
• increased blood flow also stimulates cells producing collagen and elastin fibres, which is used to speed up wound healing and improve the tension of the skin and subcutaneous tissues
• pressure imbalance stimulates interstitial fluid flow into the blood and increases lymphatic flow
• increased lymphatic-venous circulation results in better cleansing and aids drainage after surgery

Due to the above clinical effects, vacuum therapy in physiotherapy treatments is indicated for use in:

• improving peripheral arterial circulation
• treating venous and lymphatic stasis due to various causes
• reduction of muscular tension
• spinal pains, muscular pains of rheumatoid origin
• supporting reduction of weight and cellulite

Vacuum therapy – limitations

Topical restrictions on the use of vacuum therapy include:

• fresh injury
• painful varicose veins
• abdominal hernia
• hemangiomas, spider veins
• skin infection at the treatment site

Vacuum therapy – contraindications

• acute inflammatory conditions
• bleeding tendency
• active cancer
• use of anticoagulants
• fiever
• arterial hypertension
• menstruation (if electrodes are placed on the lumbar or abdominal region)
• pregnancy (if electrodes are placed on the lumbar region)
• venous dilatation or diseases accompanied by vascular rupture
• varicose veins
• phlebitis, etc.
• thrombophlebitis
• diabetes in which peripheral neuropathy is detected
• pacemaker (if treatments are performed on the thoracic spine)

Vacuum therapy – how to carry out the treatment

Vacuum pressure can be applied in continuous or pulsed form. The choice of vacuum strength depends on the patient’s condition. The more severe the complaints, the lower the vacuum value and the application in pulsed form. As the condition improves, the vacuum value can be slowly increased.  It is necessary to systematically monitor the patient and evaluate the effects of the therapy.

The effect of the vacuum massage created by the vacuum wave can be combined with an electrotherapy treatment. One should mainly use bidirectional low- and medium-frequency currents to limit the electrochemical effect in the skin. The action of vacuum with unidirectional currents can create the danger of a large reaction (galvanic erythema and vacuum effect) on the skin. The use of suction cups facilitates mounting to parts of the patient’s body that are difficult to access with traditional flat electrodes in treatments using different currents.

Combining electrotherapy with vacuum increases the effectiveness of the therapy. The vacuum also reduces skin resistance during combined therapy with low (TENS currents are preferred) and medium-frequency currents (4- and 2- field interference currents, Kotz current, medium-frequency bipolar waveform).

The parameters of the currents are selected according to the purpose of the treatment. Low- and medium-frequency currents used in therapeutic ways act on secondary symptoms of illness or injury, aim to alleviate pain sensations, improve blood circulation, reduce tension in striated and smooth skeletal muscles, stimulate contraction of weakened and denervated muscles and achieve a favourable starting point for the initiation of physiotherapy treatments. Vacuum electrodes make the work of physiotherapists easier, as they can be placed in areas of the body that are difficult to reach for flat electrodes.

The following are general guidelines for selecting the frequency and intensity of pulsed or medium-frequency [AMF] currents, depending on the objectives of the therapy: