Compression garment

Abstract

A compression garment extending longitudinally from a waist to a distal end of the gastrocnemius or soleus, said garment comprising panels of stretchable material having a warp or longitudinal stretch of between 150% to 225%, and comprising frictive elements attached to the inside of the compression garment extending from the waist to the distal end of the gastrocnemius or soleus; the frictive elements having a warp or longitudinal stretch of between 101% to 125%; wherein a first frictive strip extends from the waist about the tensor fasciae latae or sartorius muscle head down to the vastus medialis, a second frictive strip extends from the waist about the gluteus medius around the vastus intermedius and converging with the first strip over the Sartorius muscle, and a third strip extends from the gluteus maximus at the waist adjacent the spine around the vastus lateralis to converge with the second frictive strip over the iliotibial tract; whereby the converged second and third strips extend along the vastus intermedus and converge with the first strip at the sartorius muscle and extending along the rectus femoris a predetermined distance above the patella bifurcating along each side thereof, the frictive element extending a predetermined distance below the patella and around the tibia about the iliotibial tract joining at the distal or lower end of the gastrocnemius muscles or the soleus muscle.

1 . A compression garment extending longitudinally from a waist to at least a distal or lower end of the gastrocnemius or the soleus of each leg of a wearer, the garment comprising:
 at least one panel of stretchable material stitched together by a plurality of seams to form a compression garment outer having a waist portion and a pair of leg portions wherein the compression garment outer includes an inside surface facing the user and an external surface, the panel having a warp or longitudinal stretch of between 150% to 225%;   at least one frictive element attached to the inside of the compression garment outer and extending from the waist to the distal or lower end of the gastrocnemius or to the soleus wherein the frictive element has a warp or longitudinal stretch of between 101% to 125%, the frictive element having a plurality of strips of predetermined constant or non-constant width;   wherein a first frictive strip extends from the waist about the tensor fasciae latae or sartorius muscle head down to the Sartorius muscle near a top of the vastus medialis, a second frictive strip extending from the waist about the gluteus medius around the vastus intermedius and converging with the first strip over the Sartorius muscle, and a third strip extending from the gluteus maximus at the waist adjacent the spine around the vastus lateralis to converge with the second frictive strip over the iliotibial tract whereby the converged second and third strips extend along, the vastus intermedus and converge with the first strip at the sartorius muscle and extending along the recurs femoris a predetermined distance above the patella bifurcating along each side thereof, the frictive element extending a predetermined distance below the patella and around the tibia about the iliotibial tract joining at the distal or lower end of the gastrocnemius muscles or the soleus muscle.   
     
     
         2 . A compression garment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the frictive element is glued or stitched to the compression garment outer, or the two are welded or melted together, 
     
     
         3 . A compression garment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the frictive element is formed by a left hand frictive element and a right hand frictive element each extending from the waist to the lower end or bottom of the gastrocnemius or the soleus of each leg respectively. 
     
     
         4 . A compression garment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the frictive element is composed of a natural or synthetic rubber, a polymeric material or an impregnated fabric. 
     
     
         5 . A compression garment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the compression garment outer is formed from a plurality of panels of stretchable material stitched together by a plurality of seams. 
     
     
         6 . A compression garment as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the compression garment outer includes:
 a crotch panel; an Achilles panel; a lower tibia panel; and a pair of upper leg panels.   
     
     
         7 . A compression garment as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the panels forming the compression garment outer are formed from stretchable material wherein at least two of the panels have different stretchability. 
     
     
         8 . A compression garment as claimed in  claims 1 , wherein the frictive element includes substantially the same stretchability longitudinally as transversely,