LIMITATION OF MOVEMENT IN THE ANKLE AND TALO-CALCANEONAVICULAR JOINTSCAUSED BY COMPRESSION BANDAGES

Objective : To investigate whether compression bandages cause a change in mobility, possibly a restriction in the ankle and talo-calcaneonav icular joint. Design: Comparative studies of mobility in the ankle and talo-calcaneonavicular joints using a special, graduated measuring de vice, both with and without compression bandages. Four different banda ge systems with two different compression bandages were used in each c ase. Setting: University hospital. Subjects: Ten healthy volunteers. M ain outcome measures: Ankle joint mobility with and without compressio n bandages. Results: All bandages greatly restricted mobility in both the ankle and talo-calcaneonavicular joint. The extent of this restric tion depended on the bandage systems and material: thick bandages led to worse results than thin products.Conclusions: It must be assumed th at long-term therapy with compression bandages may be partly responsib le for the finding of 'arthrogenic congestive syndrome' (arthropathica ulcerosa). Because previous studies have shown that medical compressi on stockings cause very little restriction of mobility, patients with chronic venous insufficiency should, in the long term, be treated with compression stockings and not bandages.