MEDICAL VIEWPOINT | treatment history

Compression treatment history

Nowadays, it would be hard to determine when and who was the first patient to be treated with compression therapy and its realization by knitted compression massage. Nevertheless it is clear that hand-made stockings preceded the production of stockings using knitting machines. Around 1300 BC knitted socks were already known. Hand knitted socks from the 4th century BC were found in Egyptian tombs.

The invention of the hosiery frame by William Lee in 1589 is considered the real beginning of the machine knitting, which meant the origin of the knitting machine principles. The first therapeutic non-elastic bandages were discovered already in the Ancient Egypt. The direct predecessor of today’s products is the so-called Schnürstrümpfe, known since 1800. They were basically stockings that looked more like lace boots. The pressure was regulated by tightening or loosening the lace. Knitted bandages were invented considerably later. The first patent for elastic stockings comes from the first half of the 19th century.

From this moment, technologies for the development of new materials are constantly being improved; mainly because of the fashion sector, which everyday establish higher requirements to the image. That is why, at present time, an extra effort is carried out to fulfill the fashion and esthetic requirements in the compression garments area.