Development of anti-fatigue gradient compression stockings with optimized strain uniformity for chronic venous insufficiency

Compression stockings are widely used to manage chronic venous insufficiency. To ensure effective therapy, these textiles must deliver a stable and consistent pressure. This study investigated the mechanical properties of knitted fabrics used for such textiles and translated these insights into the development of compression stockings. The results indicated that the stitch pattern was the dominant factor affecting tensile and elastic properties of the knitted fabric. Increasing the insertion density and fineness of the weft-inlay fabric enhanced the strength by 212.98% ± 0.44% and 65.41% ± 2.41%, respectively. Selecting the double-wrapped yarn with a 210D spandex core and two 70D nylon sheaths as a weft-inlay yarn, the 1/3 insertion density retained 59.04% ± 0.33% of the strength observed at 1/1 insertion density, satisfying the strength gradient of compression stockings. The developed compression stocking delivered effective pressure gradients and exhibited superior strain uniformity compared with a commercial product and reported data.