Pressure ulcers and Lyapko's application therapy

Bedsores

Pressure ulcers are ulcerative-necrotic and dystrophic changes in tissues that occur in areas of the body with constant pressure, or are formed as a result of a violation of trophism in weakened, long-term patients.

The main reasons for the formation of pressure ulcers are blockage of blood circulation and lack of movement of the patient. Blood flow is mainly blocked by the weight of the body in the area of the bony protrusions, which squeeze and press the soft tissue against the surface of the bed or chair, thereby blocking the blood vessels.

Pressure ulcers are always an unpleasant and dangerous complication. They can lengthen the time of illness, slow down recovery, and can lead to death. Pressure ulcers often lead to complications, the most serious of which is sepsis.

Patients who have lost the mobility of any part of the body as a result of a stroke, fracture, as a rule, are elderly people suffering from chronic diseases that weaken them. Many are unable to move in bed without assistance.

Diseases in which pressure sores are possible:

diabetes;
hip fracture;
consequences of a tumor or damage to the spinal cord, leading to tetraplegia (paralysis of most of the body, including the upper and lower extremities);
stroke;
coma;
patients in intensive care units;
patients with mental illness;
heavy surgical operations;
obesity:
cachexia;
severe forms of arthritis with limited movement in the joints;
traction or plaster cast in fractures also lead to prolonged forced position of the patient.

There are 4 stages of damage:

stage. Hyperemia of the skin, the area of the skin is pink, turns pale with pressure.
stage. Hyperemia and hyperthermia of the skin, the skin is red, hot to the touch, does not change color when pressed. There is edema, a violation of the integrity of the skin.
stage. Superficial ulcer. An ulcer on the skin, affecting the fatty layer. The color is bluish with a transition to black.
stage. Deep ulcer, deep wound, spreads to muscles, bones.

Prevention of bedsores

Regular inspection and careful hygiene. Keep the patient's bed and skin clean to avoid excessive moisture. Treat the skin with baby powder. Mandatory use of anti-decubitus mattresses and pillows.

Protein-rich food - the diet should be varied and balanced, with a large amount of protein food, which is the main building material of animal tissues, sufficient fluid intake.

Changing the position of the patient's body every 1.5–2 hours reduces the load on the areas exposed to the greatest pressure. It is imperative to put pads between the knees to prevent them from pressing on each other.

Treatment of pressure ulcers depending on the stage

Treatment of pressure ulcers stage 1–2 in bedridden patients can be carried out at home.

Purulent and deep necrotic foci most often require surgical intervention and hospitalization of the patient. Treatment of pressure ulcers is a complex and time-consuming process, drugs are selected depending on the reaction of the body.

The general principle for the treatment of pressure ulcers includes:

improvement of trophism (blood supply) of tissues;
cleansing the surface of bedsores from necrotic masses;
healing of the surface of pressure ulcers.

For hygiene procedures, you need to use laundry soap, saline.

Wipe the treated skin, bypassing the wound surface, with camphor alcohol, which, when applied externally, has an antimicrobial, local irritant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. By stimulating the sensitive nerve endings of the skin, it reflexively improves tissue trophism.

Zinc ointment, "Sudokrem" have a drying, adsorbing, astringent and disinfecting effect. Reduces exudation and weeping, which relieves local inflammation and irritation.

At 2 stages: washing the skin with chlorhexidine or hydrogen peroxide. Applying dressings with a healing ointment: Actovegin, Levosin, Levomekol, Solcoseryl.

Methods of using Lyapko's application therapy for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers

Lyapko application devices refer to methods of physiotherapeutic treatment, improve blood circulation, microcirculation and transcapillary metabolism, increase blood supply to organs and tissues, and reduce inflammatory processes in them.

As a result, all metabolic processes in the body are activated, which is especially important for the treatment and prevention of pressure ulcers.

Their action is based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine - superficial multi-needle acupuncture.

More detailed information can be found in the article "Lyapko Applicators - Mechanisms of Action and Application Areas".

Lyapko's application therapy is applied to clean skin, bypassing redness and the pressure sore area.

Before each treatment of the body with camphor alcohol, we recommend rolling the risk zones with application rollers.

Use the “Large roller M”, “Universal roller M” to make rolling movements along the spine, around the reddened skin, around the bedsores for 2–5–7 minutes, depending on the reaction of the skin (until slight redness appears).

Also roll each limb from the fingertips up to the torso for 2-3 minutes. This helps to improve peripheral blood circulation, lymph flow, stimulates metabolism in tissues, improves recovery processes in them.

If the patient can work with his hands, then it is good to periodically roll a needle ball in his hands during the day, this will improve cerebral circulation, train the muscles of the hands and arms.

The use of flat applicators on the back, on the front of the chest area is not only a means of preventing pressure ulcers, but also a means of preventing pulmonary congestion, which can lead to pneumonia.

It is recommended to use flat applicators on the back area: Applicator "Large rug", "Large needle massage mat", "Chance 6.2x4", "Narodny". "Chamomile M", "Quadro". The larger the exposure area, the better the effect.

It is also possible to use smaller flat applicators: "Needle massage pillow", "Insoles plus", "Chance", "Sputnik plus", which are placed on the zone of the projection of the lungs. In addition to the back area, to enhance the effect, it is recommended to apply applicators to the auxiliary zones on the front surface of the body.

The exposure time is 20-30 minutes, the course of treatment is 10-14 days, which can be repeated after a break after 1-2 weeks.

If we cannot apply the applicator to the region of the sacrum, buttocks (there are bedsores), then it can be applied to the lower abdomen, this will reflexively improve the blood supply to the back zones, as well as improve intestinal motility. You can also use the applicator in a lateral position.

After application therapy, at the place of application of the flat applicator, the roller, all the pores are open, which contributes to better penetration of camphor alcohol and ointments applied to the skin, enhances the therapeutic effect of drugs.

Application therapy improves the psychoemotional state of the patient, has an analgesic effect, improves sleep, significantly accelerates the process of wound healing and the patient's recovery.

You can also do massage through a cloth or on the body, oiled with oil, using the Pharaoh massager, the exposure time is 10-15 minutes.

For many patients who found themselves in such a situation, Lyapko's application therapy helped to avoid complications and return to normal life.