Influence of protective pad integrated into sport compression garments on their pressure delivery to athlete's lower limbs

Abstract This study aims to investigate the influence of the size of protective pad integrated into knitted fabric assembly intended for protective compression sport garments on the pressure delivery by the garment to the body of the wearer. A protective pad was integrated into an experimental knitted fabric sleeve assembly that resembled the knee section of a common compression garment. Several pads of different size were incorporated into the experimental fabric assemblies of the same dimensions and the effect of the pad size was determined. In addition, the dimensions of the fabric sleeve assemblies were varied with the size of the pad remaining constant. The pressures generated by the assemblies on a cylindrical model limb, and the physical and mechanical properties of the experimental fabrics were determined. The pressure generation properties of the sleeve assemblies were measured using Salzmann pressure- measuring device MST MKV IV. The results were analyzed and the influence of the protective pad on the garment pressure delivery to a cylindrical bluff limb, and thus potentially to the wearer's body, was determined.