Aerify Recovery – Dress to Compress

Aerify Recovery Technology is a brand that offers multiple devices, like cold and pneumatic compression boots and pants, to enhance recovery. In this article I will focus on the pneumatic compression boots. To be precise, I’ll have an in-depth look at the new Aerify “Charge”, an eight air-chamber technology that enables 240 mm Hg of pressure, 16 pressure levels, including six different programs (including 2 pulse modes).

I will tell you my honest feedback about this very cool Biohacking “tool” and why I added it as an essential routine (not only) after an exhausting leg workout after the gym.

EDIT 3/2023: >>> Check out my article about the Aerify FLY compression/heating sleeves <<<

Aerify Charge – What are pneumatic compression boots?

The integration of pneumatic compression boots to boost recovery, especially post-workout, has become increasingly popular over the last years, in the sports industry as well as in the Biohacking scene.

Therefore it  should come as no surprise that these devices are gaining more and more awareness and be seen with more and more semi-professional athletes, too. They now are available to everybody and not only a secret tool for top level Olympians.

In this article I will help you to learn more about pneumatic compression boots and aid you in understanding how they actually work.

First, let’s start with a little definition: the word pneumatic derives form Greek pneein = to blow, to toot, to aspirate (Becher et al., 1995).

So how do pneumatic compression boots actually work? Well, in a nutshell, Aerify compression boots use air or, also called pneumatic compression, to:

“(…) create a dynamic and effective massage for your legs. By sequentially pressurising different chambers of the boots it can increase liquid circulation in your legs that can help to recover faster from active lifestyle and sports.” (Aerify, 2021).  

As the name suggests, the device looks like a pair of “boots”, okay, to be honest, more like “seven-league boots”,  see picture.

The company also manufactures pneumatic compression pants, so it’s up to you whether you prefer boots or pants.

You could make the decision depending on the muscles you use the most during your sport or daily activities.

How does the Aerify Charge work?

Again, let’s start from scratch and have a look at how pressure is measured. Traditionally this is done in millimeter of mercury (mm Hg), with Hg being the abbreviation of Greek Hydrargyros = “of liquid silver color” (Becher et al., 1995).

The Aerify Charge comes with 16 different built in intensity levels, ranging from level one (equals 15 mm Hg) up to level 16 (equals 240 mm Hg) of pressure. According to that you’re able to start from a very low pressure (if you’re sensitive to it) and move your way up (every level adds 15 mm Hg of pressure), if desired.

So, i.e., level one equals 15 mm Hg, level 10 is a pressure of 150 mm Hg and the end range level (16) equals 240 mm Hg (about the pressure inside of a volleyball).

In regards of the pressure, Aerify states:

“The pressure needed depends on the circumference of your legs (e.g. with thin legs normally you will need a higher pressure), personal preferences and tolerance of compression. We advise to start with medium pressure – LEVEL 6 to 10 (between 90-150 mmHg) and then go higher or lower according to your comfort level. Please, note that the sensation should be pleasurable yet strong and firm. If you feel uncomfortable at any time we suggest to lower the pressure level.” (Aerify, 2021).

Pneumatic Compression Boots – How about scientific literature?

As always, I do not postulate any health claims in this article or others. But I always like to take a look at scientific literature and what it has to say about a specific topic.

Then, the benevolent reader has the best out of two fields: science and anecdotal evidence “out of the trenches”, respectively personal experience.

The oldest research I could find (so far) about pneumatic pressure boots dates back to two studies out of the year 1978. One came to the conclusion that:

“The data indicate that EPC is more effective than no treatment (p less than 0.04) and more effective than low-dose heparin (p less than 0.04) in the prevention of DVT.“ (Coe, et al., 1978). EPC, in this context, stands for “external pneumatic compression”. 

The other study stated:

“The data indicate that EPC provides significant protection against the development of DVT in comparison with results in the control group (p < 0.05).” (Skillman et al., 1978).  

Furthermore, in 1990, a study with the title: “Pneumatic sequential-compression boots compared with aspirin prophylaxis of deep-vein thrombosis after total knee arthroplasty” showed that:

“The results confirm the effectiveness of compression boots in the treatment of patients who have had unilateral total knee arthroplasty.“ (Haas et al, 1990).

In 2015 a team of researchers investigated peristaltic pulse dynamic compression (PPDC) in reducing short-term pressure-to-pain threshold (PPT) among Olympic Training Center athletes after morning training. 

Their conclusion: “We conclude that PPDC is a promising means of accelerating and enhancing recovery after the normal aggressive training that occurs in Olympic and aspiring Olympic athletes.“ (Sands et al., 2015).

A year in advance the following was published:

“PPDC provides a means of rapidly enhancing acute ROM requiring less discomfort and time.” (Sands, et al., 2014).

A more recent (2016) study that investigated the effect of pneumatic compression therapy (PCT) on lymph movement in lymphedema-affected extremities, published that:

“Direct visualization revealed increased lymphatic function, during and after PCT therapy, in all lymphedema-affected extremities. Further studies are warranted to assess the effects of PCT pressure and sequences on lymph uptake and movement.” (Aldrich et al., 2016).

Static vs pulsing compression – Know the difference

As mentioned earlier the Aerify Charge boots come with different “modi operandi”. Meaning you are free to choose HOW the air is pumped into the eight different chambers.

When you look at the control panel (see picture), you will see the letters A, B, C, D, E and F. Each of them stands for a special program HOW the boots are inflated.

Static compression means that the chambers are inflated to the pressure mm Hg of your desire and then, deflated. This would be a static compression.

The pulsed compression – as the name suggests – uses pulses (“wave like”) compressions that are dynamic in nature. This resembles the human muscle and vein-pump in  human extremities (arms, legs).

Intention of this concept is to enhance fluid movement and metabolic “waste-products” (i.e. like lactic acid) out of the extremities in order that the body can get rid of them.

This is alike an automatic lymph drainage without the need of an external practitioner.

Lymphatic drainage, by the way, is a special massage technique that uses light amounts of pressure with rhythmic strokes in order to enhance the flux of lymph, a special fluid within your body that transports nutrients and oxygen to your cells, as well helps with getting rid of “metabolic waste”.

Interesting fact:

The number of lymph vessels is twice the number of blood vessels! In contrast to your blood which is (supposed)* to be pumped by your heart through your body, the lymph system has to rely on pressure deriving from your muscles and blood vessels in order to get moved through your body.

* Just a side note: I do write “supposed to” as, from a sheer physical point of view, the size of the heart is too small to generate the amount of pressure needed to “pump” blood even into the smallest blood vessels, called capillaries. Yet it is “lege artis” (state of the art) in medicine.

If you want to learn more about what the heart actually might be, I’d recommend you the book: “Human Heart, Cosmic Heart: A doctor’s Quest to Understand, Treat and Prevent Cardiovascular Disease”, by Thomas Cowan, MD.

Regular and properly done lymphatic drainage can be a great health benefit, as one of the main “jobs” of your lymphatic system, as shown above, is to maintain a proper function of your immune system!

But, back to the Aerify’s controlling device. Let’s compare the different modes.

Modes A, B, C are for intense recovery sessions:

A: “sequential squeeze” best for flushing lactic acid after exercise

B: “triple wave pulse pressure” mode for lactic acid flush and muscle relax – 2 in 1 – great after long training hours

C: “full squeeze and release” with all chambers at the same time for a quick and super intense therapy

Modes D, E, F for muscle relaxing massages:

D: “single wave pulse pressure” mode provides an excellent relaxing massage after a long day on your legs

E: “peristaltic double wave” for an intense muscle relax

F: “peristaltic triple wave” for an even more intense muscle relax

Another great feature is that you can switch every single of the eight air chambers on or off, by simply clicking on the boot-shaped icon on the control panel (see picture).

So, let’s say you feel a little discomfort in a special area of your limbs, no problem. Simply select the area you feel troublesome and switch it off. This will not interfere with the whole program. The boots will simply spare the selected chamber off.

How to set up the Aerify Charge Compression Boots

Before you can experience your first compression-session, you’ll have to set up your Aerify Boots.

Don’t worry, this is simple as ABC. The device comes dissembled (see pictures) and, of course, deflated in a comparably small box.

Within the box you’ll find the controlling device and a hose that consists of eight smaller pneumatic hoses.

Moreover, you will unpack a left and a right hose. Attach the pneumatic hoses to the little wholes/spare parts within the boots and take care to set them up in the correct way.

Flip over the flap with the Aerify logo stitched into and insert the small (grey) endings of the (black) hose into the (grey) openings (see picture).

After that you can re-flip the flap again to cover the openings of the hoses, everything will be kept in place by velco strips.

At the end you’ll just have to attach the main hose into the control device. Look at the shape of the socket and the plug in to adjust everything the right way.

Then you’re good to go, respectively to get a nice compression!

When do I use the Aerify Charge Boots?

Right at the beginning I said that I’ve integrated the compression treatment into my regular routine.

As an internationally known Strength-Coach, I’m always looking for cutting-edge technology to boost the workout of my athletes or my own.

Yet, I always state that you can only be as good as how fast you can recover from a workout. Meaning, a well-designed training-program is of uttermost importance, though regeneration will always be the “bottleneck”.

The best program in the world will help you little to nothing if you cannot recover properly from it and/or your regeneration time lasts simply too long!

According to that, using compression therapy has found its way into my own recovery protocol, especially after an intense leg workout. Always remember: “Train hard, recover smart!”

Therefore the quintessence is: using a smart recovery method like 30 min post workout treatment with the Aerify Charge compression boots, will most likely shorten your recovery time.

The Aerify boots are portable, lightweight and can be worn pretty much everywhere. Perfect for even intra-workout session on a competition day etc.

Aerify Recovery Boots Review – Conclusion

Just one single blog article is too short to explain all the benefits of (dynamic and static) compression therapy. I’ve just scratched the surface of benefits that might come by regular use of such a “cool tool”.

In this review I wanted to give you my honest impression of a Biohacking tool with very versatile utility.

As I wrote, the boots can not only be used after strength- or hypertrophy-training, but also after heavy cycling, hiking and all sorts of intense activities.

Clinical research has demonstrated also the benefits of compression therapy in a medical setting, for example when treating lymph-related problems and other medical issues.

If you’re suffering from any of the mentioned problems, I’d recommend you though to consult a physician before using the Aerify boots and to always start with a moderate pressure.

Don’t rush for your regeneration. Slow is precise and precise is fast!

The model I do review in this article is the : Aerify Charge Recovery boots system. This model costs (2021) 899 €. I think this is a reasonable price, considering from what you’ll get.

But if this might be a bit too pricey for you, check out Aerify’s Online-Shop, they have different systems, starting from 499 €!

Plus, you can get lots of cool attachments, like short pants, long pants, the boots and even arm cuffs!

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Thanks for reading.

I wish you an energetic time!

© HP Bernd Stößlein, Master of Business Administration in Sportmanagement.

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Literature:

Lateinisch-griechischer Wortschatz in der Medizin, S. 100.

Lateinisch-griechischer Wortschatz in der Medizin, S. 174.

Aerify Charge, source: https://www.aerifyrecovery.com/pressotherapy, access from 2.11.21.

Coe NP, Collins RE, Klein LA, Bettmann MA, Skillman JJ, Shapiro RM, Salzman EW. Prevention of deep vein thrombosis in urological patients: a controlled, randomized trial of low-dose heparin and external pneumatic compression boots. Surgery. 1978 Feb;83(2):230-4. PMID: 622696.

Skillman JJ, Collins RE, Coe NP, Goldstein BS, Shapiro RM, Zervas NT, Bettmann MA, Salzman EW. Prevention of deep vein thrombosis in neurosurgical patients: a controlled, randomized trial of external pneumatic compression boots. Surgery. 1978 Mar;83(3):354-8. PMID: 628896.

Haas SB, Insall JN, Scuderi GR, Windsor RE, Ghelman B. Pneumatic sequential-compression boots compared with aspirin prophylaxis of deep-vein thrombosis after total knee arthroplasty. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1990 Jan;72(1):27-31. PMID: 2404020.

Sands WA, Murray MB, Murray SR, McNeal JR, Mizuguchi S, Sato K, Stone MH. Peristaltic pulse dynamic compression of the lower extremity enhances flexibility. J Strength Cond Res. 2014 Apr;28(4):1058-64. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000000244. PMID: 24077383.

Sands WA, McNeal JR, Murray SR, Stone MH. Dynamic Compression Enhances Pressure-to-Pain Threshold in Elite Athlete Recovery: Exploratory Study. J Strength Cond Res. 2015 May;29(5):1263-72. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000000412. PMID: 24531439.

Aldrich MB, Gross D, Morrow JR, Fife CE, Rasmussen JC. Effect of pneumatic compression therapy on lymph movement in lymphedema-affected extremities, as assessed by near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging. J Innov Opt Health Sci. 2017;10(2):1650049. doi:10.1142/S1793545816500498.