Phlebology > Volume 24, Number 1 > Pp. 31-37

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by van der Wegen-Franken, C P M Articles by Neumann, H A M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Original Articles

Changes in the pressure and the dynamic stiffness index of medical elastic compression stockings after having been worn for eight hours: a pilot study

C P M van der Wegen-Franken ^* , B Tank , T Nijsten  and H A M Neumann 

^* Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Elkerliek, PO Box 98, 5700 AB Helmond; Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Correspondence: C P M van der Wegen-Franken MD, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Elkerliek, PO Box 98, 5700 AB Helmond, The Netherlands. Email: kvdwegen{at}elkerliek.nl

Objectives: There is no data available at present on the changes in the exerted pressure together with the dynamic stiffness index (DSI) of medical elastic compression stockings (MECS). The objective of this pilot study was to measure the pressure and calculate the DSI of 12 different brands of MECS before and after having been worn for eight hours.

Methods: In all, 12 different commercially available brands of MECS that were divided into two categories (class I round-knitted and class II flat-knitted MECS) were tested. The pressure was measured, and the DSI of the MECS was first calculated at the B1 level before wearing in the morning and again eight hours after they had been worn. All laboratory measurements were performed using a newly developed dynamic leg-segment model.

Results: The pressure at the B1 level dropped significantly in all 12 brands of MECS after having been worn for eight hours, whereas the DSI remained unchanged.

Conclusion: The DSI of MECS reflects an important and particularly consistent therapeutic effect. As the pressure drops during the day, the pressure amplitude or pulsations remain the same. The pressure drop may be due to fatigue of the elastic material. The DSI would therefore form a valuable indicator for prescribing the most effective MECS for the patient.

Key Words: compression therapy • dynamic stiffness index • pressure • medical elastic compression stockings

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?