Compression garments and method of manufacture

Abstract

This invention relates to a compression garment (10) for clothing a body part including a lower body part of a wearer. The compression garment has a first panel (12) of stretchable material joined to a second panel (14) of stretchable material by a first seam (16). The stretchable material of the second panel (14) has a higher stretch and recovery characteristic compared to the stretchable material of the first panel (12). In use, the first panel (12) of stretchable material is adapted to support a larger, more powerful muscle group than the second panel (14). The second panel (14) is joined to a third panel or the first panel (12) by a second seam (18). The second panel (14) is adapted in use to be located along a substantial part of the illiotibial band of the wearer.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to compression garments and to methods of manufacture. In particular, this invention is concerned with compression garments including upper body garments and lower body garments.BACKGROUND[0002]Prior art compression garments are generally designed to fit the body snugly, but without consideration as to the extent to which muscles increase in bulk and mass during activity. Such prior art garments can become non-static or counter-gradient in this situation. Once a person wearing a static compression garment increases muscle mass with activity, the garment can become tighter in the vicinity of the muscle, which can increase as much as 3-5% in volume. This alters the effect of the static compression and can create undesirable effects, in being undesirably tight or in providing more compression in the wrong places. In turn, this can impede circulation and reduce the effect of lymphatic drainage.[0003]Prior art compression garments do not...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0035]In one preferred embodiment, the upper body compression garment of the fifth aspect of the invention has the seam joining the first and second panels placed so that, at the front of the garment, the seam is located above the wearer's diaphragm area. It is further preferred that, at the rear of the garment, the seam is shaped

Problems solved by technology

This alters the effect of the static compression and can create undesirable effects, in being undesirably tight or in providing more compression in the wrong places.

In turn, this can impede circulation and reduce the effect of lymphatic drainage.

Prior art compression garments do not take into consideration difference in the degree of shortening which takes place during act

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