Mechanics of knee and ankle bandages

Different types of bandages were tested mechanically and clinically. Four elastic and three elastic adhesive bandages were mechanically tested. The former proved better. Seven different ankle bandages and three knee bandages were tested in a simulated clinical situation, measuring the pressure which developed while walking for 15, 50 and 100 min, and immediately after application of the bandage. The bandages slackened most markedly during the first period of walking. The compression pressure of the padded adhesive ankle bandage was lower than that produced by most other bandages. The padded adhesive and elastic bandages proved to be most suitable for clinical use. The padded knee bandage produced a lower compression load than the elastic bandage tested. On the basis of this trial we recommend the use of a padded knee bandage.