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.
Even if it meant for sensor technology would enable materials ?he sense of the environment around them and respond to that environment.?
Finest Australian merino wool of about 18 microns has been used for the garments.
The CSIRO had carried out wearer trials and the reaction to the product was positive with the patients feeling blissful even while wearing it for 24 hours.
Smith and Nephew who are international manufacturers of wound management products have supported the well turned-out textile research and they will maintain that support through to the next stage, acknowledged Robin.
