A. Lentner et al., LIMITATION OF MOVEMENT IN THE ANKLE AND TALO-CALCANEONAVICULAR JOINTSCAUSED BY COMPRESSION BANDAGES, Phlebology, 12(1), 1997, pp. 25-30
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.