Compressive orthosis for the lower limb in the form of a knitted article of the stocking, sock, or tights type
The orthosis comprises a leg portion and a foot portion. The leg portion which extends upwards from the ankle serves to apply therapeutic compression to the leg once the orthosis has been put on. The foot portion which extends from the malleolar region to the toes and covers the instep is a shaped portion that envelops the foot elastically. The dimensioning and the mesh structure of the foot portion are such that 0<P x <P m <P b once the orthosis has been put on, P x being the pressure applied to the instep region, P m being the pressure applied to the malleolar region, and P b being the therapeutic compression applied to the ankle region. Preferably, P x =5 mmHg±25% and P m =0.5(P b +P x )±25%.
1. A compressive orthosis for the lower limb, the orthosis being in the form of a knitted article of the stocking, sock, or tights type, and comprising:
a leg portion extending upwards from the ankle, said leg portion being a compressive tubular portion of mesh structure and dimensioning selected in such a manner as to apply therapeutic compression to the leg once the orthosis has been put on the limb; and
a foot portion extending from the malleolar region to the toe region covering the instep region, said foot portion being a shaped portion of mesh structure and dimensioning that are selected so as to envelop the foot elastically once the orthosis has been put on the limb;
wherein the mesh structure and the dimensioning of the foot portion are selected in such a manner that once the orthosis has been put on the limb:
0<P x <P m <P b
P x being the pressure applied by the orthosis level with the instep;
P m being the pressure <36 mm Hg applied by the orthosis level with the malleolar region; and
P b being said therapeutic compression applied by the orthosis level with the ankle.
2. The orthosis of claim 1 , in which the mesh structure and the dimensioning of the foot portion are selected in such a manner that P m <0.8P b .
3. The orthosis of claim 1 , in which the mesh structure and the dimensioning of the foot portion are selected in such a manner that P x =5 mmHg±25%.
4. The orthosis of claim 1 , in which the mesh structure and the dimensioning of the foot portion are selected in such a manner that P m =0.5(P b +P x )5±25%.
5. The orthosis of claim 1 , in which the pressure applied by the orthosis in the region of the instep is an average of pressure measurements taken from the top face, the medial face, and the external face of the instep region of the foot.
6. The orthosis of claim 1 , in which the pressure applied by the orthosis in the malleolar region is an average of pressure measurements taken from the anterior face, the posterior face, the medial face, and the external face of the malleolar region.