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.
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