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Wool mixed Lycra fabric to alleviate elder's pain

25 May '06
2 min read

To avert skin tearing among aged persons, CSIRO, a study group financed by Australian Wool Innovation has come up with a new medicinal fabric.

Robin Cranston team leader of the CSIRO's Textile and Fibre Technology said aged persons are highly vulnerable to skin tears.

The latest wool and lycra fabric innovated by CSIRO guards limbs against injuries and can be worn during all seasons.

Due to ageing, skin develops drying and loses flexibility, according to Robin.

Blood flow reduces and skin develops lesser binding ability and fat deposits lessen as a result, goes extremely delicate, added Robin.

The textile majors required developing a product that would suit arms and legs, which are most susceptible areas.

"Some people who have suffered acute muscle loss are really only skin and bone; (with) very spidery, spindly limbs," explained Robin.

In those patients, the joints are well defined while others suffer oedema and are very swollen.

The CSIRO sought a garment that would match to an arm length, right up from the wrist to upper arm or from ankle to mid thigh.

It had to be easy to use, washable, and robust, above all; appear first-class, too.

A mixture of wool with lycra gave the professionals the desired outcome, "In a very, very special knitted structure that gave us very, very high stretch in both dimensions but without exerting a lot of pressure," viewed Robin.

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