• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.275-280
• /
• 2020

Objective: Compression wear is an external aid which promotes performance and recovery, diminishes muscular microtrauma, reduces muscle fiber recruitment, improves neuromechanics, enhances coordinative activities, and reduces the perceived exertion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between athletic taping and compression wear on dynamic postural balance in healthy young men. The hypothesis was that the athletic taping and compression wear would affect dynamic postural balance, with athletic taping having a different effect on dynamic postural balance in healthy young adults. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Thirty-seven healthy young men participated in this study. To examine the association between athletic taping and compression wear, 3 clinical measurement tools, including 5 times sit-to-stand (5xSTS), one-leg standing (OLS) test, and Y-balance test (YBT) in 5 different conditions, namely (1) non-supporting, and support with (2) athletic taping, (3) regular compression wear, (4) silicon compression wear, and (5) double-fiber compression wear were used. Results: The distance of the Y-balance test (YBT) on both the dominant and non-dominant sides showed a statistically difference among the 5 supporting conditions (p<0.05). The distance measured via the YBT in the non-support condition was significantly different than that in the other four supporting conditions (p<0.05). However, 5xSTS and OLS were not significantly different in these supporting conditions. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that athletic taping, silicon compression wear, and double-fiber compression wear were more effective for dynamic balance than non-supporting and regular compression wear.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.60-68
• /
• 2011

The effect of compression wear for sport performance and muscle function was investigated based on the physiological test and electromyograph(EMG). The EMG test was used to study muscle activity after fitting the compression wear during exercise. It showed slight difference between men and women testee groups in the results of anaerobic, aerobic, fatigue, and EMG test due to muscle content in the body. In addition, the exercise performance was increased to some extent even the muscle activity was decreased. It is estimated that the compression effect to muscle by the compression wear decreased the muscle vibration and improved blood circulation which helped the entire sport performance. However, it is necessary to study the effect of compression wear in long-term wearing in the future study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.775-787
• /
• 2016

This study examined the wearing conditions of compression wear for weight training. Compression wear has recently received significant attention from the public and athletes as high-level functional sportswear. The survey was conducted on 373 men in their 20s for general information on purchase behavior, preferred brand, function, and preferred design. The majority of participants (n=181) were aware of the function of compression wear. The most selected reason for wearing compression wear was for its convenience during sports activities. Respondents had the greatest preference for designs with a round neckline, regular leggings type, upper arm-length sleeve, and thigh-length bottom. Respondents also wanted a stronger compression in the core muscle part (abdomen, back, and waist).

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.459-467
• /
• 2019

Compression wear provides clothing pressure and affects how blood flows. Facilitating a blood flow is one of the most important functions of compression wear. The wearer's sensibility should be considered when designing compression wear. This study instructed participants to put on 5 types of sport compression wear with different pressure levels (CP-1 to CP-5), measured clothing pressure, blood flow level, blood flow rate, and surface temperature, and examined the pressure level that influenced blood flow through a subjective sensibility assessment. An experiment measured the clothing pressure of compression wear available in the market and found that the pressure ranged 0.6-1.1 kPa for the ankle, 0.7-2.3 kPa for the calf, and 0.9-1.9 kPa for the thigh. Meanwhile, blood flow levels and rates significantly increased when participants wore CP-1, which had the highest clothing pressure level, and CP-2 and CP-4 with middle-level pressure. After exercise, CP-2's surface temperature was the highest and revealed that wearing CP-2 facilitated blood flow. CP-2 was evaluated as most positive in the sensibility assessment and showed a clothing pressure of 0.67-1.82 kPa; its pressure for the calf did not surpass 2.0 kPa. Considering positive physical effect of compression wear on blood flow and subjective psychological effect on participants, CP-2 (0.67-1.82 kPa) would have the most suitable clothing pressure level among other types of the wear in this study.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.209-219
• /
• 2019

This study analyzed and compared wearer mobility for different types of clothing that also included the potential to develop firefighter station uniforms using range of motion (ROM) and electromyography (EMG). This study focused on a comparison of wearer mobility affected by different materials and shapes of the station uniforms worn under firefighter turnout gear. Japanese standard uniform (UNI), stretch-wear (ST), and compression-wear (CP) were used as station uniforms for the experiment. This study analyzed wearer movements and quantified ROM and EMG. In addition, the subjective evaluation of wearer mobility and comfort were assessed for comparisons. Nine healthy male students participated in the experiment. Wearer mobility was analyzed using ROM and EMG data obtained by measuring five motions; in addition, subjective evaluations were also obtained. As compared with the standard station uniform, ROM increased 6.8 % and 7.2 % due to stretch-wear and compression-wear. The benefits of wearing stretch material or compression material to improve muscle performance (such as reduced percent of maximum voluntary contraction) were not proven. Differences between materials and designs influenced subjective wearer comfort. In particular, the wearing of compression materials was shown best in terms of wearer comfort that may also allow greater wearer mobility.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.343-352
• /
• 2018

The objective of this study is to investigate the market of fitness compression wear as well as to design an optimal fitness compression wear by analyzing the muscle and movement characteristics of the elderly women in Korea. In this regard, research for functional garments is needed to increase muscle activity of elderly people during physical exercise. Firstly, we investigated the brand, design, size, material, and pattern of fitness wear based on the market survey. Secondly, we identified preference, evaluation items, evaluation method, and pattern design method based on the literature review. Finally, in addition, the motion type, range, angle to improve the muscle strength of the elderly were investigated and the maximum muscle strengths of each motion were analyzed by using 2007 Size Korea data (n = 386). It is also designed for muscle fatigue through exercise and rapid fatigue recovery after exercise. The evaluation methods for fitness compression wear were classified as motor functionality, physiological comfort, pattern and material suitability evaluations. The muscle strength at leg (pushing force) and waist (lifting force) of the ages of 60 to 69 years old showed 239.3 N and 274.5 N, respectively, which were the lowest forces compared to younger age groups. By applying these results to the design process of fitness wear, it is anticipated that the fitness wear will have a proper fit to the body shape of elderly people in South Korea as well as it can increase muscle efficiency to promote physical capability and healthy life for senior people.

• Journal of Fashion Business
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.127-142
• /
• 2021

This study aims to organize the prototype design method of compression wear for women professional soccer players. Despite the excellent performance of female soccer players in world competition, most functional wear has been developed mainly for men, so professional female athletes have fewer choices. Soccer is a sport requiring core and lower body muscle strength, and muscular endurance for long periods of playing or walking on the field. Female soccer players did not differ much in upper body compared to other women, but their lower body had a smaller hip circumference than waist circumference and a larger thigh circumference, requiring compilation considering the physical characteristics and movement of athletes. Female soccer players wear sports bras while playing but regular bras and compression wear during normal exercise because they sweat on under their breast, which irritates sensitive skin. For core muscles in the upper body and to support for thigh and hip muscles in the lower body, the uniform in this study was designed by reducing the body size of a professional female soccer player in her 20s and the actual measurements of commercial compilation software to 81% of the chest circumference, 95% of the waist circumference, and 78% of the hip circumference. The design experiment in this study was a simple exercise and did not produce produce results for long-term exercise and performance improvement, but can be used to design a composition pattern system for other professional female athletes.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.336-345
• /
• 2019

This study evaluated the preference and wearing characteristics of existing fitness compression wear for elderly women and identified the problems and improvements of existing fitness apparel. Preference and wearing characteristics for 6 types (A-F) of upper and lower fitness compression wear were evaluated. Photos and drawings as well as the preferred designs and details were investigated after presenting the evaluation clothing. Evaluations were made on a 5 point Likert scale for the fitness, allowance, pressure, ease of movement, fabric material, and overall satisfaction after wearing. The design preference indicated that B type (26.6%) and C type (23.4%) were preferred in the top with C, E and F type preferred to the same ratio of 19.4% in the slacks. The fitness and allowance amount of the top B type were the most appropriate (${\geq}4$), the C type was in close contact (2.86), and the F type was inadequate in the neck circumference (1.77). The feeling of pressure was high in the waist, abdomen, thighs, and knees. The area where the elderly people want to improve their strength was the legs; in addition, a pattern design was needed to strengthen leg muscles when designing fitness compression wear. However, a design with excessive adhesion due to a muscle support band was shown to be not preferred. Therefore, depending on the activity, it is necessary to develop a fitness compression wear that applies an optimum stretching ratio of fabric based on body surface area changes.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.508-519
• /
• 2023

Muscle reduction owing to aging causes changes in physical function among the elderly. Fitness compression wear reduces fatigue by compressing the main muscles, expanding blood vessels, and rapidly discharging lactic acid. The effect of clothing pressure when wearing fitness compression wear for the elderly was objectively and subjectively evaluated for six women aged 55-64 years. The evaluation clothes were three types of tops and bottoms, one type of design (A) preferred among the existing compression wear, and two types of design (B and C). The objective evaluation items included clothing pressure, blood flow, surface temperature, and subjective satisfaction. It was found that clothing A had the highest clothing pressure in the straight posture and five fitness movements. Blood flow increased the most when wearing the evaluation clothing. The surface temperature was found to be the highest for clothing C, and subjective satisfaction was found to be the best when wearing evaluation clothing B. If the tensile strength was low and the tensile elongation was high, as in evaluation clothing B, it was recognized as appropriate clothing pressure, and the subject was subjectively satisfied. When manufacturing fitness compression wear in the future, it will be possible to increase users' objective and subjective satisfaction with wearing it, if the incision of the garment were placed at the location of the line of non-extension (LoNE), and appropriate material characteristics are applied.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.305-316
• /
• 2021

In this study, the effect of wearing functional compression pants is verified using a lower-limb wearable robot through a bio-signal analysis and subjective fit evaluation. First, the compression area to be applied to the functional compression pants is derived using the quad method for nine men in their 20s. Subsequently, functional compression pants are prepared, and changes in Electroencephalogram (EEG) and Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals when wearing the functional compression and normal regular pants inside a wearable robot are measured. The EEG and ECG signals are measured with eyes closed and open. Results indicate that the Relative alpha (RA) and Relative gamma wave (RG) of the EEG signal differ significantly, resulting in increased stability and reduced anxiety and stress when wearing the functional compression pants. Furthermore, the ECG analysis results indicate statistically significant differences in the Low frequency (LF)/High frequency (HF) index, which reflect the overall balance of the autonomic nervous system and can be interpreted as feeling comfortable and balanced when wearing the functional compression pants. Moreover, subjective sense is discovered to be effective in assessing wear fit, ease of movement, skin friction, and wear comfort when wearing the functional compression pants.