MODE 1-1 – THE WAVE

BEST FOR: Everyday recovery and a great place to start.

Compression begins at the foot and progressively works its way up the leg through all six chambers. Each chamber completes a series of short inflation cycles before remaining inflated as the next chamber joins the sequence. Once the sequence reaches the top of the leg, the chambers release and the cycle begins again.

THE SCIENCE BIT: This is a form of peristaltic compression – sequential inflation from the distal end of the limb towards the proximal end, with pressure retained as the sequence progresses. Peristaltic IPC protocols have been used extensively in sports-recovery research.

Think of it as a compression wave travelling from your feet upwards.

MODE 1-2 – THE BUILD

BEST FOR: A strong, progressive full-leg compression session.

The sequence starts at your feet. As it moves upwards, each new chamber joins the chambers already inflated below it until compression has progressively built across the leg.

THE SCIENCE BIT: This is progressive distal-to-proximal compression. Sequential and peristaltic patterns are designed to apply external pressure progressively along the limb. IPC research has examined these patterns for their effects on haemodynamics, tissue-fluid movement and perceived recovery.

In simpler terms: it starts small and builds into one very satisfying full-leg squeeze.

MODE 1-3 – FULL LEG PULSE

BEST FOR: When you want strong, simple, whole-leg compression rather than a travelling wave.

All six chambers inflate simultaneously before releasing together.

Instead of pressure travelling through different areas of the leg, the entire leg experiences the compression-and-release cycle at once.

THE SCIENCE BIT: This creates simultaneous intermittent pneumatic compression rather than a sequential pattern. The repeated inflation and deflation applies and removes external pressure across the limb as a complete unit.

Whole leg. Squeeze. Release. Repeat.

MODE 1-4 – THE CLIMB

BEST FOR: A lighter travelling sensation and targeted progression through the leg.

A single compression zone moves from your foot towards your thigh, one chamber at a time. As the next chamber activates, the previous chamber releases.

THE SCIENCE BIT: This is a sequential distal-to-proximal pattern. In the scientific literature, sequential IPC is distinguished from peristaltic IPC: sequential programs inflate and deflate individual chambers as the compression progresses, whereas peristaltic programs progressively retain pressure before releasing together. 

Think of it as a travelling compression massage rather than a building full-leg squeeze.

MODE 1-5 – THE ALTERNATOR

BEST FOR: Variety and a completely different compression sensation.

Rather than simply working from the foot upwards, alternating chambers activate different areas of the leg throughout the cycle. This distributes compression across separate zones and creates a distinctly different feeling from the progressive programs.

THE SCIENCE BIT: This is an alternating intermittent compression pattern rather than a conventional distal-to-proximal sequence. While IPC itself has been extensively studied, there isn't good evidence establishing that this particular alternating chamber pattern provides a unique physiological recovery benefit – so we're not going to pretend there is.

Sometimes different simply feels good.

MODE 1-6 – THE QUICK WAVE

BEST FOR: A flowing full-leg sequence when you want continuous movement through the chambers.

Compression progresses from the foot towards the thigh through all six chambers, creating a continuous bottom-to-top sequence.

THE SCIENCE BIT: This again uses the principle of distal-to-proximal sequential compression, but with different chamber timing from the other progressive programs. Different inflation, hold and release timings change how the compression wave feels even when the apparent direction is similar.

Same direction. Different rhythm.