Study on different bandages and application techniques for achieving stiffer compression.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between interface pressure and stiffness of compression achieved by various combinations of bandages and application techniques.

Methods: There were eight healthy volunteers. One roll (4.5 m) of four types of bandages with different extensibilities (0, 90, 108 and 218%) was applied to the leg in single-layer bandage fashion with eight random tensions. Then, the leg was wrapped with one to eight rolls in multi-layer bandage fashion.

Results: Each combination of bandage and application technique displayed an indigenous linear interface pressure-static stiffness index relationship. With single-layer bandage, lower extensibility was associated with higher static stiffness index at a given interface pressure. With multi-layer bandage, the static stiffness index at a given interface pressure was independent of the bandage type.

Conclusions: The stiffness at a given interface pressure was affected by the extensibility with single-layer bandage but not with multi-layer bandage.