Influence of knitted orthopaedic support construction on compression generated by the support

Abstract

This study attempts to investigate the influence of the inlay-yarn insertion density into a knitted structure and of the area of a rigid element integrated into a knitted orthopaedic support on a compression generated by the support. The samples were made on a flat double needle-bed knitting machine with a laid-in structure knitted on a rib 1 × 1 pattern base, differing in the inlay-yarn insertion density. In general, research studies analyse compression and other properties of compressive stockings and do not investigate the influence of non-textile parts usually used in the knitted orthopaedic support. It was established that the linear density of the inlay-yarn has a visible influence on the compression generated by knitted support when inlay-yarn insertion density is every other course and less. When inlay-yarn is inserted into every course, the generated compression is the highest and the influence of inlay-yarn linear density on the generated compression is significant. It was found that compression of the support increases depending on the area of the rigid element in the knitted support. The rate of influence of the rigid area on compression rises with an increase in the inlay-yarn insertion density and in the elongation value. By designing a knitted compressive orthopaedic support, it is necessary to find an optimal ratio between an inlay-yarn insertion density and an area of a rigid element, thereby achieving the best compressive, wear comfort and economical result.