Comparison of stiffness and interface pressure during rest and exercise among various arm sleeves.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the interface pressure during rest and exercise among various kinds of arm sleeves.


METHODS
The interface pressure underneath nine different arm sleeves was measured during 10 maximal opening and closing movements of fingers using a pressure transducer (Air Pack Type Analyser) in 16 healthy volunteers. Furthermore, in order to evaluate the characteristics of each arm sleeve, the extensibility, stiffness and thickness were determined in vitro by several apparatuses.


RESULTS
There was a significant correlation between stiffness and extensibility. The stiffness was significantly correlated with the pressure difference between muscle contraction and relaxation during exercise. The higher the value of stiffness, the greater the pressure amplitude during exercise.


CONCLUSIONS
Short-stretch arm sleeves characterized with a high level stiffness, including thick round- and flat-knitted arm sleeves, are more beneficial for the augmentation of muscle pumping than long-stretch arm sleeves, in the same way as short-stretch bandages or stockings applied to the leg.
Hirai
M
M
Department of Vascular Surgery, Tohkai Hospital, Nagoya, Japan. hiraimh@yahoo.co.jp
Niimi
K
K
Iwata
H
H
Sugimoto
I
I
Ishibashi
H
H
Ota
T
T
Nakamura
H
H
D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology; D001458:Bandages; D004548:Elasticity; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008422:Materials Testing; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology; D011312:Pressure; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult