The effects of the support panel of compression leggings on the provision of low pressure for foot progression angle correction

Abstract

This study developed compression leggings (CLs) with a support panel for foot progression angle (FPA) correction to improve the fit without restricting the user's movement while providing an appropriate external force. This study aimed to examine the effects of FPA correction concerning the functionality and usability of the support panel of CLs that ensure low pressure. Clothing pressure (CP), FPA, skin blood flow (SBF), perceived strength, and usability of OCLs during treadmill walking were compared with the normal leggings (NLs). Differences in CP, FPA, SBF, and user evaluation results were analyzed according to different wearing conditions. Despite the low CP generated by the support panel (≤3.21 mmHg), there was a significant positive orthotic effect with an 11.6–18.0% increase in FPA for external rotation and a 10.5% increase in SBF. The users felt pressure and support around the thigh where the support panel was placed and directional tensile strength throughout their lower extremities while recognizing the usefulness in gait correction. Pressure and support provided by the support panel assured appearance satisfaction, dimension satisfaction, compression satisfaction, ease of movement, and safety. This study demonstrated that the support panel of CLs provided an FPA correction effect concerning functionality and usability.

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

“…Furthermore, the higher-pressure gradient provided by GCLs exhibited a superior FPA correction effect compared with FCLs. A previous study 11 demonstrated that the support panel, as a design factor, has a corrective effect on FPA in healthy individuals. As a subsequent study, the current study identifies AP for generating graduated pressure, which serves as a controlling variable for corrective function.…”

“…Subsequently, a modified support panel derived from the initial prototype 11 was embedded into the ground pattern. The principle of the support panel proposed by Kim 11 was to mitigate the contraction of muscles and fascia during locomotion, thereby internally rotating the hip joint through a technique of restricting muscle movement by adjusting the tension of elastic materials [39][40][41][42][43] (KR patent no.…”

“…The user evaluation questionnaire used in this study was developed by revising the ‘body part-user evaluation questionnaire (BUQUE) for DEFO’, 11 originally designed to evaluate the first compression leggings prototype. The criteria were divided into three main categories: perceived strength, usability, and acceptance, with criteria as presented in Table 4.…”

“…The influence of pressure distribution in compression garments on enhancing blood circulation, 11 –13 relieving muscle pain, 14,15 and promoting fatigue recovery 16,17 has been established. Therefore, it is crucial to apply appropriate pressure for optimal functionality in the development of DEFO.…”

“…Consequently, the author has devised a pattern reduction method based on AP quantitatively to generate pressure distribution while enhancing the initial prototype of compression leggings equipped with a support panel. 11 For correcting in-toeing gait, the author has developed and produced two types of compression leggings as the second prototype: (a) compression leggings reduced with a fixed application percentage (FCLs) and (b) compression leggings reduced with a graduated application percentage (GCLs). The investigation of fixed application percentage (FAP) and graduated application percentage (GAP) conditions is corrected for two reasons.…”