Heretofore compression wraps have been designed to address specialized needs of both athletes and medical patients associated with pivoting joints such as the elbow or knee. Compression wraps have been used by wrapping an elongated length of stretchable material around the joint. Compression sleeves have also been developed which are stretchable, tubular devices sized to fit about the joint. The compression force of these types of devices helps minimize fatigue, keep the joints from swelling, and keep joint mechanics in the proper position. These devices, however, typically provide uniform compression along the entire length of the sleeve.
An additional problem associated with these types of sleeves and wraps is that they may provide excessive stress on the yarns and knit structures in the area of the pivoting joint while being donned, i.e., on the outside of the elbow or knee. This wrinkling can cause dermatological irritation which is commonly known as necrosis or skin shearing.
These problems have been addressed by providing a sleeve gap in the area of the elbow or knee. However this, of course, exposes the elbow or knee and stresses the gap boundary of the sleeve stitching. This approach also fails to produce a seamless product.
Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a joint compression wrap that can be made without seams and with different compression capabilities. It is to the provision of such therefore that the present invention is primarily directed.