Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is extreme fatigue that cannot be explained by an underlying medical condition. It may get worse with activity, but doesn't improve with rest. The cause is unknown.
Treatment usually focuses on symptom relief. Options include medicines, such as antidepressants and sleeping pills, physical therapy, and counseling.
For individuals suffering from ME/CFS or who have been bedridden for months for a variety of reasons, there are three general principles that are recommended for KAATSU users and their healthcare professionals. Of course, with every individual, adaptations are necessary based on their physiological feedback and psychological mindset.
Three General Principles
* Gentle & Gradual: Always be very gentle and always start every KAATSU session gradually while gradually increasing the frequency, duration, band tightness, intensity of movement with KAATSU equipment.
* Low & Slow: Always start in the Low Pressure setting and build up slowly over time.
* Light & Lactate: After you have developed your strength, muscle mass, and vascular elasticity over the course of several months, then you can start using very light resistance (e.g., 2 lbs. or less) to gradually build up your working muscles with the KAATSU equipment.
Two Types of Exercise
There are two types of exercise with KAATSU:
*Internal (or vascular engorgement): This is where you sit (or lay down) in a relaxed position and allow the KAATSU AirBands to automatically, progressively, incrementally, and briefly inflate and deflate. This enables the vascular tissue of your capillaries, veins, and arteries to repeatedly expand and relax. Our vascular tissue is a muscle, so although we cannot see our vascular tissue expand, we can infer this internal exercise by the pink, rosy, or red color of the skin on our arms or legs. For the first 3-6 months, this is exclusively what a KAATSU program focuses on.
*External (or limb movement): This is seen as traditional exercise where you move your arms or legs, truck or neck, wrists or ankles in a variety of movements, either casually or vigorously. When combined with the KAATSU Cycle mode, it is an extremely effective and efficient means to engorge the limbs in blood, exercise muscle, and produce a robust hormonal response. After the initial 3-6 months, then limb movement can be added to the overall KAATSU program.
The KAATSU Cycle
A traditional KAATSU Cycle set is 30 seconds of compression where the KAATSU AirBands inflate to a certain SKU (Standard KAATSU Unit) pressure, followed by 5 seconds of decompression where the KAATSU AirBands completely deflate.
Recommended Programs
The standard recommendations based on the principles above are below for your reference. You and your healthcare provider can decide whether it is more appropriate to do more with KAATSU equipment or do less, depending on your own situation.
Standard 12-week Program
1st week: 1 Cycle set on arms per day at 2-3 finger tightness, sitting (or laying down) in a relaxed position
2nd week: 2 Cycle sets on arms per day at 2-3 finger tightness, sitting (or laying down) in a relaxed position
3rd week: 3 Cycle set on arms per day at 2-3 finger tightness, sitting (or laying down) in a relaxed position
4th week: 4 Cycle sets on arms per day at 2-3 finger tightness, sitting (or laying down) in a relaxed position
5th week: 5 Cycle set on arms per day at 2-3 finger tightness, sitting (or laying down) in a relaxed position
6th week: 6 Cycle sets on arms per day at 2-3 finger tightness, sitting (or laying down) in a relaxed position
7th week: 6 Cycle set on arms + 1 Cycle set on legs per day at 2-3 finger tightness, sitting (or laying down) in a relaxed position
8th week: 6 Cycle sets on arms + 2 Cycle sets on legs per day at 2-3 finger tightness, sitting (or laying down) in a relaxed position
9th week: 6 Cycle sets on arms + 3 Cycle sets on legs per day at 2-3 finger tightness, sitting (or laying down) in a relaxed position
10th week: 6 Cycle set on arms + 4 Cycle set on legs per day at 2-3 finger tightness, sitting (or laying down) in a relaxed position
11th week: 6 Cycle sets on arms + 5 Cycle sets on legs per day at 2-3 finger tightness, sitting (or laying down) in a relaxed position
12th week: 6 Cycle sets on arms + 6 Cycle sets on legs per day at 2-3 finger tightness, sitting (or laying down) in a relaxed position
Standard 24-week / 6-month Program
1st - 12th Week: same as above 12-week program
13th week: 6 Cycle sets on arms + 6 Cycle sets on legs per day at 1-2 finger tightness, sitting (or laying down) in a relaxed position
14th week: 6 Cycle sets on arms + 6 Cycle sets on legs per day at 1-2 finger tightness, sitting (or laying down) in a relaxed position
15th week: 6 Cycle set on arms + 6 Cycle set on legs per day at 1-2 finger tightness, sitting (or laying down) in a relaxed position
16th week: 6 Cycle sets on arms + 6 Cycle sets on legs per day at 1-2 finger tightness, sitting (or laying down) in a relaxed position
17th week: 6 Cycle sets on arms + 6 Cycle sets on legs per day at 1-2 finger tightness, sitting (or laying down) in a relaxed position
18th week: 6 Cycle sets on arms + 6 Cycle sets on legs per day at 1-2 finger tightness, sitting (or laying down) in a relaxed position
19th week: with the Cycle sets on the arms, you can start implementing gradually limb movement (e.g., Repeated Hand Clenchs or Unweighted Biceps Curls or Slow Triceps Extensions) as you feel fit
20th week: with the Cycle sets on the legs, you can start implementing gradually limb movement (e.g., Toe Curls or Toe Raises or Sitting Heel Raises or Ankle Rotations) as you feel fit
21st week: with the Cycle sets on the arms, you can gradually start adding resistance with arm movements as you feel fit
22nd week: with the Cycle sets on the legs, you can gradually start adding weight movements (e.g., KAATSU Walking or non-lock Quarter Squats or Standing Heel Raises) as you feel fit
23rd week: with the Cycle sets on the arms, you can start implementing slightly more vigorous arm movements as you feel fit
24th week: with the Cycle sets on the legs, you can start implementing slightly greater body weight movements (e.g., Stationary KAATSU Cycling or KAATSU Elliptical) as you feel fit
Standard 52-week / 1-year Program
1st - 12th week: same as above 12-week program
13th - 24th week: same as above 24-week program
25th week and beyond: do Cycle sets on arms and legs at 1-finger tightness or adding a second KAATSU session per day
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