Many users are confused on how to determine their optimal pressure in SKU (Standard KAATSU Units) while using KAATSU equipment (KAATSU C3, KAATSU C4, KAATSU B2).
Many users assume that the higher SKU pressures are used, the more benefits they will garner.
However, the key points are as follows:
* focus on using your KAATSU equipment frequently (i.e., daily or twice daily) rather than maximizing the upper limits of your pressure.
* always start in the Low Pressure setting, no matter what your experience or level of fitness or strength are. The reason why is because KAATSU focuses on strengthening your vascular tissue (i.e., making the vascular walls of your arteries, veins, and capillaries more elastic). This is the catalyst to a variety of downstream benefits (e.g., increased muscular tone, improved strength, generation of a robust hormonal response).
* even in the Low Pressure setting, if you see the color of the palms of your hands or feet or calves in your legs become pink or rosy or red, then KAATSU "is working". If you see a pink or rosy or a red tone in your skin, then the capillaries and veins are being engorged in blood - which is serving as the catalyst for a hormonal response. These are the specific goals of KAATSU.
* Even though, over time, you can increase the pressure setting from Low Pressure to Medium Pressure, and from Medium Pressure to High Pressure. However, always start your first KAATSU Cycle set in the Low Pressure setting - and then move upwards from there.
* If you have manually placed your bands on with a 2- or 3-finger tightness, then it is more important to increase to a 1- or 2-finger tightness rather than increase the SKU pressure. Once you are on a 1-finger tightness, then you can proceed to increasing the SKU pressure levels.
Moving from Low Pressure to Medium Pressure
How do you know when to move from a Low Pressure setting to a Medium Pressure setting? There is a specific protocol that you can follow:
* After at least one KAATSU Cycle set in the Low Pressure setting, reset the SKU pressure setting to Medium. Allow the Cycle set to proceed through its 8 steps in the Medium Pressure setting. Throughout this set, check your Capillary Refill Time (CRT) by firmly pressing your thumb or your forefinger into the base of your palm of your hand or into your calf. Then release. The CRT is the amount of time in seconds where your blanched (white) skin returns to your normal skin color. [Note: For darker complexion individuals, the CRT can be checked on the fingernails or toenails or soles of the feet as necessary.]
* If your normal skin color returns on your palm after 1 second (as in "...one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two..."), then your upper body and vascular system is ready to handle the Medium Pressure setting. In contrast, if your normal skin color does NOT return on your palm after 1 second (as in "...one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two..."), then your body and vascular system is NOT ready to handle the Medium Pressure setting yet. In this case, return to the Low Pressure setting.
* If your normal skin color returns on your calf or top of foot after 2 seconds (as in "...one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three..."), then your lower body and vascular system is ready to handle the Medium Pressure setting. In contrast, if your normal skin color does NOT return on your calf or top of foot after 2 seconds (as in "...one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three..."), then your lower body and vascular system is NOT ready to handle the Medium Pressure setting yet. In this case, return to the Low Pressure setting.
Note: you may be able to increase your arm pressure from Low to Medium Pressure, but your leg pressure may have to stay at Low Pressure - or vice versa - for a period of time.
Moving from Medium Pressure to High Pressure
The protocol for moving from Medium Pressure to High Pressure is the same as above:
* After at least one KAATSU Cycle set in the Medium Pressure setting, reset the SKU pressure setting to High. Allow the Cycle set to proceed through its 8 steps in the High Pressure setting. Throughout this set, check your Capillary Refill Time (CRT) by firmly pressing your thumb or your forefinger into the base of your palm of your hand or into your calf. Then release.
* If your normal skin color returns on your palm after 1 second (as in "...one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two..."), then your upper body and vascular system is ready to handle the High Pressure setting. In contrast, if your normal skin color does NOT return on your palm after 1 second (as in "...one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two..."), then your upper body and vascular system is NOT ready to handle the High Pressure setting yet. In this case, return to the Medium Pressure setting.
* If your normal skin color returns on your calf or top of foot after 2 seconds (as in "...one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three..."), then your lower body and vascular system is ready to handle the High Pressure setting. In contrast, if your normal skin color does NOT return on your calf or top of foot after 2 seconds (as in "...one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three..."), then your lower body and vascular system is NOT ready to handle the High Pressure setting yet. In this case, return to the Low Pressure setting.
Background
* Keep in mind that the purpose of your KAATSU equipment is to modify (slow down) your venous return while allowing your arterial flow to continue unimpeded. This is the reason why (1) the internal air bladder is oval shaped, (2) the KAATSU Cycle mode only compresses for 30 seconds, and the (3) capillary beds become engorged in blood.
* Below are photos of a 56-year-old woman who is a regular KAATSU user. She has one KAATSU band on one side, but not the other arm. There is a very clear differentiation in color and her vascular perfusion.
Copyright © 2014 - 2024 by KAATSU Global
KAATSU blog posts testimonials, protocols, case studies, techniques and ideas about KAATSU for recovery, rehabilitation, functional mobility and athletic performance. Statements included in this blog have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Monday, February 12, 2024
How Long Should I Use KAATSU?
Many KAATSU users ask how long should they or can they use KAATSU.
The answer is, of course, it depends on the following:
* the amount of experience that you have with KAATSU. That is, if you are a new user, it is best to start off with only 1-2 KAATSU Cycle sets and never use the KAATSU Constant mode. Then, gradually, you can increase the number of KAATSU Cycle sets that you do to a maximum of 6 Cycle sets in a row.
* the intensity of exercise or movements that you do with your KAATSU equipment. That is, if you are sitting and relaxed, you can do more KAATSU Cycle sets, compared to it you are doing intense strength-training exercises, running, or cycling with KAATSU equipment on.
* the amount of SKU pressure that you use with your KAATSU equipment. That is, if you use a Low Pressure setting, you can do longer sessions (i.e., a greater number of KAATSU Cycle sets) compared to if you use a High Pressure setting.
Fundamentally, KAATSU usage should be gentle and gradual, focusing on the KAATSU Cycle mode - although some users want to really push themselves and do intense, vigorous exercises in the KAATSU Constant mode where their lactate levels and their rate of perceived exertion are maximized.
The KAATSU equipment (KAATSU C3, KAATSU C4, KAATSU B2) are designed to allow up to 6 consecutive KAATSU Cycle sets. This is roughly 40-50 minutes worth of KAATSU with intermittent breaks between each KAATSU Cycle set. When you are ready, these 6 sets can be done on both your arms, and then on your legs. This total duration, therefore, would be between 1 hour 20 minutes and 1 hour 50 minutes - which is most definitely on the upper limits of KAATSU duration.
However, there are some users who want to do more than this. In these extreme cases, we strongly recommend that users limit their KAATSU Cycle sets to 6 at one time on their arms and on their legs. Then, take a break of several hours and these extreme users can repeat their 6 arm sets and 6 leg sets. In other words, they can do a morning KAATSU session and then follow-up with a second KAATSU session in the late afternoon or evening session.
But, most importantly, the key recommendation is to do KAATSU daily (or frequently) rather than doing very long (1 hour 30+ minute) sessions only 2-3 times per week.
Copyright © 2014 - 2024 by KAATSU Global
The answer is, of course, it depends on the following:
* the amount of experience that you have with KAATSU. That is, if you are a new user, it is best to start off with only 1-2 KAATSU Cycle sets and never use the KAATSU Constant mode. Then, gradually, you can increase the number of KAATSU Cycle sets that you do to a maximum of 6 Cycle sets in a row.
* the intensity of exercise or movements that you do with your KAATSU equipment. That is, if you are sitting and relaxed, you can do more KAATSU Cycle sets, compared to it you are doing intense strength-training exercises, running, or cycling with KAATSU equipment on.
* the amount of SKU pressure that you use with your KAATSU equipment. That is, if you use a Low Pressure setting, you can do longer sessions (i.e., a greater number of KAATSU Cycle sets) compared to if you use a High Pressure setting.
Fundamentally, KAATSU usage should be gentle and gradual, focusing on the KAATSU Cycle mode - although some users want to really push themselves and do intense, vigorous exercises in the KAATSU Constant mode where their lactate levels and their rate of perceived exertion are maximized.
The KAATSU equipment (KAATSU C3, KAATSU C4, KAATSU B2) are designed to allow up to 6 consecutive KAATSU Cycle sets. This is roughly 40-50 minutes worth of KAATSU with intermittent breaks between each KAATSU Cycle set. When you are ready, these 6 sets can be done on both your arms, and then on your legs. This total duration, therefore, would be between 1 hour 20 minutes and 1 hour 50 minutes - which is most definitely on the upper limits of KAATSU duration.
However, there are some users who want to do more than this. In these extreme cases, we strongly recommend that users limit their KAATSU Cycle sets to 6 at one time on their arms and on their legs. Then, take a break of several hours and these extreme users can repeat their 6 arm sets and 6 leg sets. In other words, they can do a morning KAATSU session and then follow-up with a second KAATSU session in the late afternoon or evening session.
But, most importantly, the key recommendation is to do KAATSU daily (or frequently) rather than doing very long (1 hour 30+ minute) sessions only 2-3 times per week.
Copyright © 2014 - 2024 by KAATSU Global
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