The effects of fixed and graduated application percentage-type compression leggings in adult women with mild in-toeing gait

Abstract

This study examined the effects of fixed and graduated application percentage-type compression leggings for intervention in adult women with mild in-toeing gait. Participants wore these leggings while walking on a treadmill under three conditions: the control group, compression leggings with a graduated application percentage, and compression leggings with a fixed application percentage. Pressure, foot progression angle, skin blood flow, joint angle, and user evaluation scores were measured for legs affected by in-toeing gait ( n = 11). Statistical analysis compared these parameters among the three conditions. In the results, both compression leggings with a graduated application percentage and compression leggings with a fixed application percentage provided a partially graduated compression, resulting in pressure differences of 4.60 and 9.70 mmHg, respectively. Foot progression angle showed significant increases – 14.3% ( p = 0.000) with compression leggings with a graduated application percentage and 31.1% ( p = 0.000) with compression leggings with a fixed application percentage – compared with the control group condition. Skin blood flow also showed notable rises – 30.5% with compression leggings with a graduated application percentage and 61.1% ( p = 0.000) with compression leggings with a fixed application percentage – compared with the control group, indicating the superior effectiveness of compression leggings with a fixed application percentage. Both compression leggings with a graduated application percentage ( p = 0.000) and compression leggings with a fixed application percentage ( p = 0.000) positively impacted the hip joint angle in the transverse plane, nearing the normal range when compared with controls. Acceptance of both compression leggings was high, with compression leggings with a fixed application percentage proving advantageous for gait correction and compression leggings with a graduated application percentage for ease of use during donning and doffing. The study confirmed the benefits of functionality, usability, and acceptance of the two types of leggings in adult women with mild in-toeing gait.

Corresponding measurement-based patternmaking method for leggings using three-dimensional body scanning technology

“…As the available stretch ratio (AS) is not 100% used in the actual wearing of clothes, 2 it is important to incorporate the application percentage of the available stretch ratio (AP), which denotes the used percentage of the available stretch ratio in practice, to reduce pattern dimensions for production. 26 AS refers to the ratio (%) of materials stretched under the tension of 350 N/m (2 lbf/inch), 2,27 which is consistent with the tension value defined by ASTM D2594–04 28 for form-fitting semi-support apparel. AP refers to the used percentage (%) of AS to reduce block pattern dimensions, which are equivalent to body dimensions with ease allowances removed.…”

“…Many studies 19,29 –32 measured AS under a load of 500 g based on Ziegert and Keil’s 26 AS measurement method and proposed the AP to reduce a pattern in form-fitting garments. However, the tension used by Ziegert and Keil 26 was just 24.5 N/m (9.8 N/kg·0.5 kg/0.2 m), which is different from the material tensile strength range of 147–222 N/m in the actual wearing of compression leggings 27 and the load of 175 N/m (5 lbf/5 inch) for loose-fitting (comfort stretch) apparel fabrics and 350 N/m (10 lbf/5 inch) for form-fitting (semi-support) apparel fabrics as defined by ASTM D2594–04. 28 According to Laplace’s law, the interface pressure by garments in the same radius cylinder is proportional to material tension.…”

“…The fit evaluation questionnaire used to examine the fit suitability of leggings prototypes and validate the new leggings patternmaking method consisted of six questions about fit suitability (appearance satisfaction, dimension satisfaction, compression satisfaction, usefulness in movement, ease of movement, and ease in donning and doffing) selected from usability sub-criteria in the body part-user evaluation questionnaire (BUQUE) 27 for dynamic elastomeric fabric orthosis (DEFO) (Table 3). The evaluation consisted of the overall lower body for ease in donning and doffing and appearance satisfaction, six body parts (waist, hip, thigh, calf, waistband line position, and pants length) for dimension satisfaction and usefulness in movement, four body parts (waist, hip, thigh, and calf) for compression satisfaction, and two body parts (thigh and calf) for ease of movement.…”

“…The evaluation consisted of the overall lower body for ease in donning and doffing and appearance satisfaction, six body parts (waist, hip, thigh, calf, waistband line position, and pants length) for dimension satisfaction and usefulness in movement, four body parts (waist, hip, thigh, and calf) for compression satisfaction, and two body parts (thigh and calf) for ease of movement. 27…”

“…2 If AP is different even in the same type of garment, tightness differs. 27,30 Jeong and Hong 31 and Kim and Hong 32 had limitations as they suggested different APs between the horizontal and vertical directions and the same APs among body parts for the horizontal direction. Graduated compression refers to increasingly higher tightness in the distal than that in the proximal in compression garments and is a concept whose functional effect is recognized in clinical settings and studies.…”