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Executive summary
There is growing consensus among clinicians and the literature that custom-fit compression garments represent a significant advancement in compression therapy. While they may involve higher upfront costs, the long-term benefits—reduced complications, fewer replacements, better clinical outcomes—support their broader adoption in managing venous insufficiency, oedema, arthritis, post-operative support, travel, activity, injury prevention and MSK injury recovery. While standard-sized compression garments are widely used, patients frequently encounter challenges such as discomfort, slippage, poor adherence, and inconsistent pressure application. Custom-fit compression garments offer superior clinical outcomes, greater comfort, and improved long-term adherence compared to standard-size garments. Moreover, with the advent of CAPE 3D body scanning technologies, these garments can now be prescribed by practitioners rapidly and cost-effectively, reducing fabrication errors and time. As compression therapy continues to evolve, precision fit is emerging as a critical factor in achieving optimal patient outcomes.
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Introduction
Despite being widely used by athletes at all levels, there is still considerable debate about how compression physiologically impacts the body, and its impact on athletic performance. This paper aims to provide the facts on sports compression by describing how pressure garments can augment physiological performance, and by how much. It also provides guidelines on how elite athletes should choose their compression garments.
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