Dynamic Evaluation of working pressures with 'gorgurão' sleeves used in the treatment of lymphedema of the arm.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the working pressures at the interface between the skin and compression sleeves made of ‘gorgurao’ (cotton-polyester textile) used in the treatment of lymphedema of the arms. Twenty measurements of working pressures between the skin and ‘gorgurao’ sleeves for each of fipatients suffering from lymphedema of the arms were taken. For this evaluation, an apparatus developed by Godoy & Braile, which dynamically measures the working pressure at half-second intervals, was utilized. Two sensors were placed in the medial region of the biceps muscle. In all evaluations, it was proved that resting pressures are recorded depending on the manner in which the sleeve is used and that the sleeves cause important variations in the working pressures. In conclusion, low-elastic ‘gorgurao’ sleeves are an alternative method of compression in the treatment of lymphedema.