Manuals

Wear and Care Instructions

Familiarize yourself thoroughly with these instructions before wearing your Lymed® medical aid for the first time. Keep the instructions for the whole time you wear pressure clothing. The person responsible for your care is in charge of executing the pressure treatment and providing you with instructions. If you have any questions concerning your product or how to use it, please contact your health care provider or Lymed® dealer.

 

Before wearing for the first time

Before treatment familiarize yourself with the instructions on how the garments are worn. These can be found from our web pages www.lymed.fi. If you have a custom-made garment, check the care label on the inside to verify that your identifier is on it. If you are using a standard size garment, check the care label on the inside to verify that the product is the one ordered. You should wash the garment before wearing it for the first time. The feeling of the product will change after first wash when the composition of the fabric settles.

 

What are pressure garments?

Pressure treatment executed with a pressure garment is a form of medical treatment that can be used to affect various diseases and medical conditions. The pressure garment is a medical aid that can be used for a wide range of indications by people of various ages. It is a close-fitting piece of clothing designed to apply pressure to the desired body area. The effects of pressure garments are based on the controlled pressure of the garment. Pressure garments can be made with either even pressure or compression that decreases proximally toward the torso depending on the therapeutic effect that the pressure garment is primarily intended to achieve.

 

What you need to know about your Lymed product

The wear time and the duration of use of the product is determined by the person responsible for the treatment. You can wear the garment continuously as necessary, except while bathing or applying skin care. If necessary, you can wear it while sleeping.

Wearing the pressure garment as recommended ensures the best possible result in treatment. If the garment feels uncomfortable or the wrong size, it might be put on incorrectly. If the fit seems to be changing as time goes by, your body measurements or the size of the garment should be checked. Lymed products can be modified if necessary, through our repair services.

Lymed products are durable and designed for long-term use. The lifetime of regularly worn Lymed® garments usually spans from three to six months. In products that have a high frequency of use and require durability, like socks and gloves, the lifetime of the product might vary notably between users. The product’s rate of wear is affected, among other things, by the indication for its use, the frequency of use, the level of pressure or compression, the level of customization, the anatomy of the user, the acidity level of the skin, the effect of friction by other materials or objects, the simultaneous use of other medical aids, and the product’s wear and wash routines.

The pressure garment should be replaced regularly to maintain performance. The condition, fit and use of the garment should be actively monitored during the pressure treatment. To achieve optimal pressure and result in treatment, the pressure garment should be modified or exchanged for another one approximately every three months. Active users, such as children or working adults, may need a replacement more often. At the latest, the pressure garment must be replaced when it begins to lose its elasticity and the original pressure level changes, when your weight or measurements change, when the garment can no longer be cleaned properly and the feel of the material becomes greasy or when the garment or some part of it is damaged.

Wearing two or more Lymed garments at the same time is allowed on the recommendation of the person responsible for your treatment. The clothing will then be designed and made for wearing simultaneously. Lymed garments must not be worn on top of each other unless they were prescribed and made for this purpose.

 

Dress and wear

Before treatment familiarize yourself with the instructions on how the garments are worn. Learning the right technique for dressing may take some time at first. Avoid tearing or pulling the garment fiercely, especially by the seams. You can use a variety of dressing aids with Lymed products. Avoid dressing aids (e.g., most sock aids that overstretch knee-high socks) that could damage the product. The garment is on properly when the care label is on the inside. Dressing instructions are available at www.lymed.fi.

The pressure garment is worn as the inmost layer of clothing. Briefs and a bra can be worn as usual underneath pressure clothing. Protect the garment with another piece of clothing when it is exposed to external stress: for example, some other medical device used regularly, repeated movement causing local strain, rubbing or chafing shoes or Velcro sandals.

The lifetime of the garment is shortened by, e.g., dressing contrary to the instructions by pulling by the seams, washing routines that are not as recommended ones, using bleach or a fabric softener, other medical aids that constantly rub against the garment, long-term exposure to sunlight, the heavy use of skin cream underneath the garment or regular use while swimming. The garment can be worn for water sports if it is washed afterwards as soon as possible.

 

Repairs

The product must not be repaired by you or a third party. Lymed Oy offers repair services for its products. In the event of a need for repairs, please contact your treatment provider or dealer. If you send products for repair, they must be washed and dry.

Please note that Lymed Oy only covers the costs of repairing or replacing the reduced suitability of the material for wearing, provided that the garment has been worn as instructed and its material is the one recommended. Lymed Oy reserves the right to repair a defective product or replace it with an equivalent one. Information on guarantees and repair services: www.lymed.fi.

 

Wash

Washing the garment according to the instructions will extend its lifetime. Where possible, the garment should be washed after every time it is worn, to prolong its lifetime and help it keep its qualities longer. This may even mean machine washing daily, depending on the user’s secretion of perspiration and sebum and other bodily secretions, as well as the skin care products, deodorants and perfumes used. Grime and skin secretion residue gradually accumulate on the material, destroying the fibres, if the garment is not washed properly and regularly. You will have to plan for unusually frequent washes when wearing pressure clothing. We recommend having more than one garment to wear, allowing them to be washed and worn in turns. This will also extend their combined lifetime.

Hand wash is not recommended because this will prevent the material from being cleaned properly. If hand wash is necessary from time to time, it is important to return to machine wash as soon as possible.

  • Wash in a washing machine at 40°C with normal cycle, not a fine cycle.
  • Wash the garment placed inside out in a washing bag. Close any zippers/Velcro/fasteners.
  • Use mild detergent which does not contain any fabric softener, bleach or strong fragrances.
  • The use of a fabric softener or laundry detergent containing a fabric softener is not allowed.
  • Only line dry, dry flat or tumble dry at low temperatures. Do not wring dry.
  • Do not dry the garment in direct sunlight, in an oven or a microwave oven or on a radiator.
  • Wash with similar colours. Colours may fade or bleed.

 

The most common benefits of Lymed pressure clothing

The person responsible for your treatment may prescribe a pressure garment for the treatment of diseases or ailments other than those listed below. Read more about the indications for use on our website.

The most common benefits of wearing pressure clothing include the following: preventing and treating hypertrophic scars, accelerating the scar maturing process, reducing and softening the scar and lightening its colour, reducing itching and pain, preventing edema (swelling), removing fluid, controlling inflammatory reactions, post-operative aftercare, treating a scar and edema simultaneously, re-attaching tissues, improving motor skills and proprioception, enhancing recovery, reducing a tissue edema, preventing incorrect postures, reducing muscle pains, activating fascias, controlling and supporting the torso, pain management, controlling muscle tension, arousing deep pressure sensations, improving functionality, seeking a soothing effect, torso perception, self-awareness, improving the quality of sleep, and improving the somatosensory system.

 

The most typical indications for pressure clothing

 

Lymed Skin and Lymed Interim & Light
Scar treatment: burn scars, other scars, keloids, skin grafts, hypertrophic scars, erythema, hemangiomas, ichthyosis, epidermolysis bullosa, severe acne scars, etc.

The most common objectives of pressure treatment:

  • Reducing and softening scars
  • Accelerating the process of scar healing
  • Preventively for wounds and skin grafts with long healing times and the risk of developing hypertrophic scars
  • Preventing and treating the itching, pain and redness of the skin

 

Lymed Compression
Edema treatment: lymphedema, lipoedema, venous leg ulcers, venous insufficiency, venous thrombosis, traumas, restless legs syndrome, Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, pain caused by lymphedema, shin splints and other connective tissue plate problems, pregnancy, post-operative aftercare, post-injury edema, reducing edema pain, preventing edema, reducing inflammation, etc.

The most common objectives of compression treatment:

  • Improving muscle pump function, in this way improving venous blood return toward the heart
  • Reducing fluid leakage from the veins to the tissues and pressing the fluid from the tissues back to the vein and the lymphatic vessel system, whereby limb edema and wound exudate are reduced
  • Directing the body fluid circulation system through compression that lightens toward the mid-torso

 

Lymed Sense, Lymed Interim & Light, Lymed Well-being, Lymed Sport
Neurological treatment and rehabilitation use: hypotonia and other motion disturbances, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)/attention deficit disorder (ADD), Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and other pain syndromes, shoulder plexus neuropathy, scoliosis, ataxia, dystonia, cerebral palsy (CP), spasticity, Parkinson’s disease, athetosis, Rett syndrome, Down syndrome, paralysis, cerebrovascular diseases, sports injuries, musculoskeletal problems and disorders, improving posture, activating muscles, etc.

The most common objectives of neurological and rehabilitative pressure treatment:

  • Gaining positive effects on movement and body control
  • Enhancing proprioception feedback, thereby increasing and improving body awareness, muscle activation and movement control
  • Preventing joint hypermobility and improving the predictability of movements
  • Reducing spasticity and expanding passive movements through the tissue stimulation and stretching of local tissue by the pressure garment
  • Managing pain and pain conditions
  • Strengthening the tactile receptor messages, which helps to increase body and functionality awareness
  • Reducing tension and incorrect postures

 

Lymed Post-operation
Post-operative use: aftercare following all kinds of invasive surgery, liposuctions, breast repairs and modifications, abdominal and lower torso procedures, childbirth and Caesarean sections, facial area procedures, upper arm surgeries, joint replacement surgeries, etc.

The most common objectives of post-operational pressure treatment:

  • Preventing and eliminating edema and bruising
  • Relieving pain in the cut area
  • Expanding and supporting the movements of the cut area
  • Reattaching tissues

 

Risks, disadvantages and obstacles of wearing a pressure garment

The risks of wearing a pressure garment are low and pressure clothing is generally a well-tolerated form of treatment. It is ideal for use alongside other forms of treatment. Contraindications for wearing pressure clothing include heart failure, dehydration or a strong predisposition to bruising or pressure urticaria. The person responsible for your care is always in charge of executing the pressure treatment, providing you with instructions and assessing the suitability of wearing a pressure garment. Please tell this person if you have other diseases that may affect wearing the pressure garment.

Discontinue wearing pressure clothing and contact the person responsible for your treatment if any of the following symptoms occur while wearing the garment: pain, numbness, abnormal swelling, circulatory disorders, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, skin breakdown or other unusual skin symptoms. This also applies to any symptoms not mentioned in these instructions.

Please note the following:

  • This pressure garment is intended for your use only and you should not allow others to wear it. It can cause harm to them even if they have the same symptoms as you.
  • Do not remove the care label attached to the product. It contains important product information.
  • Please note that wearing a pressure garment may cause more frequent urination or physical urticaria, which is usual when wearing pressure clothing.
  • In the event of a serious incident caused by wearing the garment, you should make an appropriate incident report to Lymed Oy and the responsible authority of your country of residence.

 

Garment storage

  • Store an unused garment away from light at room temperature.
  • Do not wear any piece of pressure clothing after the expiration date, mentioned on the packaging.
  • You can recycle a used pressure garment as textile waste or disposed of it along with household waste, depending on the practices in your country of residence.

 

Providing feedback

Give us feedback on your product and user experience with the form below.

 

Further information: www.lymed.fi

 

Order and delivery terms: www.lymed.fi

 

Date of instructions: May 2021. Manufacturer: Lymed Oy, Pyhäjärvenkatu 5A, 33200 Tampere, Finland

These instructions are for following Lymed products: Skin, Interim & Light, Compression, Sense, Post-operation, Well-being, Sport.

These instructions are intended for users of Lymed products and their health care providers.