How EECP works. The short version and the long one.
Enhanced External Counterpulsation uses precisely timed pressure to improve circulation at the cellular level. Here's what's actually happening during your sessions.
Your heart rests. Your circulation does the work.
EECP uses inflatable cuffs wrapped around your calves, thighs, and hips. These cuffs inflate and deflate in precise synchrony with your heartbeat — timed to the millisecond using an EKG signal.
When your heart is at rest between beats (diastole), the cuffs inflate — pushing blood back toward the heart and increasing coronary perfusion pressure. When your heart contracts (systole), the cuffs deflate instantly — reducing the workload on the heart.
Over 35 sessions, this repeated mechanical stimulus promotes the growth of new collateral blood vessels (angiogenesis), improves endothelial function, and increases nitric oxide production — the body's natural vasodilator.
Cuffs inflate → blood pushed toward heart → increased coronary perfusion
Cuffs deflate instantly → reduced cardiac workload → improved output
New collateral vessels form → endothelial function improves → lasting benefit
Three distinct FDA clearances. One of them is unique.
Chronic Stable Angina
FDA-cleared and Medicare-covered under NCD 20.20 for patients with chronic angina who have not responded adequately to medication, stents, or bypass surgery.
Ischemic Heart Failure
Cleared for patients with heart failure due to reduced blood flow, with evidence from the PEECH trial showing improved exercise duration and quality of life.
Healthy Individuals (NCP-5 only)
The Renew NCP-5 holds a unique third clearance for increased VO₂, vasodilation, and improved blood flow in healthy individuals — the only EECP system cleared for this use. This is the clearance Asheville EECP operates under.
What the research actually shows.
of angina patients in MUST-EECP reported significant improvement in symptoms
improvement in exercise duration in PEECH trial heart failure patients
SF-36 quality-of-life domains improved in long COVID observational data
hours of personal EECP experience by our founder Jack Clifford
Ready to learn if EECP is right for you?
A 30-minute call answers most questions. No commitment, no pressure.
The Renew NCP-5 — what you'll actually see.
The Renew NCP-5 Enhanced External Counterpulsation system. FDA-cleared. Portable enough to fit in an SUV.