Guidelines for Sport Compressive Garments Design: Finite Element Simulations Approach

Abstract Purpose Despite compression garments (CG) having acquired significant attention in the sports field, there remains ongoing debate regarding their actual effectiveness in enhancing athletic performance and expediting post-exercise recovery. This article delves into various aspects, with a focus on CG design and the materials they are made of, aiming to analyze the importance of personalized compression strategies based on individual anthropometric measurements and non-linear compression designs. Methods Through anthropometric analysis of 40 healthy participants, this study examined the morphological characteristics of the lower limb and their implications for CG design. Results Measurements of limb length and circumferences revealed complex interactions among anatomical variables, emphasizing the need for customized and adaptable device design. Finite element simulations further clarified the challenges in achieving uniform pressure gradients along the lower limb, highlighting the limitations of one-piece devices and suggesting tailored segmented designs for individual limb segments. Conclusion The results demonstrated that while one-piece devices may offer simplicity, they often fail to provide optimal compression due to non-linear variations in limb dimensions. Conversely, segmented devices, particularly those with bilinear progression, exhibited superior performance in applying targeted compression across different limb segments. This more detailed approach to customization could significantly contribute to optimizing outcomes and user comfort.