Phlebology > Volume 24, Number 3 > Pp. 120-124

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 Google Scholar Articles by Hirai, M Articles by Nakamura, H PubMed PubMed Citation Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Original Articles

A comparison of interface pressure and stiffness between elastic stockings and bandages

M Hirai ^* , K Niimi ^*, H Iwata , I Sugimoto , H Ishibashi , T Ota  and H Nakamura 

^* Department of Vascular Surgery, Tohkai Hospital, Nagoya; Department of Vascular Surgery, Aichi Medical University, Aichi; Department of Development and Research, Toko Inc., Tokushima, Japan

Correspondence: M Hirai MD PhD, Department of Vascular Surgery, Tohkai Hospital, 1-1-1 Chiyodabashi, Chikusaku, Nagoya 464-8512, Japan. Email: hiraimh{at}yahoo.co.jp

Objectives: To compare the interface pressure during posture changes and exercise between elastic stockings and bandages.

Methods: Using a pressure transducer (air pack-type analyzer), the interface pressures associated with three different elastic stockings and three different elastic bandages were measured during supine resting, standing and exercise in 15 healthy volunteers.

Results: Short-stretch bandages showed a significantly higher static stiffness index value, which is defined as the pressure difference between lying and standing, than long-stretch bandages and short-stretch stockings (P < 0.001). Furthermore, short-stretch bandages showed a significantly greater pressure difference between muscle contraction and relaxation in both tip-toe and knee-bending exercises than long-stretch bandages and short-stretch stockings (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Short-stretch bandages can be expected to have more pronounced benefits for augmenting muscle pump than long-stretch bandages and short-stretch stockings.

Key Words: elastic stockings • elastic bandages • stiffness • compression pressure • muscle pump

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