In the medical sector, compression textiles are mainly used to prevent various illnesses, or to treat them, or to improve quality of life.
However, compression textiles are increasingly also being used in the non-medical sector and are being talked about more and more at trade fairs and among specialist retailers and are also turning popular.
“Non-medical compression textiles are becoming more and more popular on the market, however, at the same time, there are critics who cast doubt on their effectiveness”, says Florian Girmond, Director of the Consumer Tests Department at the Hohenstein Institute.
Compressive travel socks are supposed to help, for example, with circulatory problems or to prevent deep vein thrombosis.
In sport, advertisements claim promise better performance, faster recovery, fewer muscle injuries, accelerated breakdown of lactates and even make one feel fresher.
But what really lies behind these claims? Florian Girmond provides clarity about compression testing for products in non-medical sectors and about the effectiveness and testing of non-medical compression textiles.
If one considers medical compression hosiery, then the fact that it has successfully been through compression testing provides evidence that it is effective, and such stockings may be used as medical aids.
There are also decades of experience and numerous studies confirming the effectiveness of the hosiery. However, again by contrast, the actual effectiveness of non-medical compression textiles is disputed within the industry.
Providing his assessment, Girmond informs, “In the case of non-medical compression textiles, there is a lack of clarity about the actual benefits of the products and there is no universal standard under which this kind of textile is tested to verify its functionality.
“If you listen to consumers, it seems as if the subjective experiences and impressions of people who are actively engaged in sport are positive. This is also suggested by the growing sales of sports socks.
“However, the use of special compression hosiery for sport, especially by the general public, has not yet been common for very long. That is one reason why there are hardly any objective and soundly-based scientific studies about its effectiveness.
“In the light of the public interest and the doubts in some sections of the industry, the Hohenstein Institute recently organised a webinar about its testing services for non-medical compression textiles.”
