A custom made torso compression garment maintains effective pressure for 2-3 months and then must be replaced. Alternating between several compression garments will aid in lengthening the life of the garments. Although in some cases of weight change, or spurts of rapid growth in children, more frequent re-measurement and replacement may be necessary.
Common Options for Custom Torso Garments
Neckline
- Regular: Neckline should be at the sternal notch.
- Scoop: Neckline is dropped to below the sternal notch, from 1/2 to 3 or more inches. You specify the depth.
- Turtleneck: A band is attached to the neckline in order to raise a collar from 3/4 inch to 21/2 inches high. You specify height.
NOTE: Pressure on the torso is achieved by stretching the garment across the body. A deep neckline may result in less pressure across the upper torso.
Zippers
Torso garments, such as vests, body briefs, and suits come with a zipper as a standard feature. Zippers are anterior by default for all torso garments. Many torso compression garment orders for toddlers and infants request a posterior zipper. Zippers for upper and lower extremities attached to torso garments would be considered optional features and should be specified on the Upper Extremity Chart or the Lower Extremity Chart, as appropriate.
Zippers on the torso, whether anterior or posterior, may be offset several inches in order to avoid a sensitive area. In “Additional Instructions” specify which side to move the zipper to and how much. For example, “Offset zipper three inches left”.
Hook & Loop Zipper Stop Tab
Torso garment zippers may occasionally come open on some patients. To prevent this we can install a hook and loop tab across the zipper to hold it together.
Hook & Eye
Hook & Eye Torso garment zippers may be very difficult to close for those with little or no hand or finger strength. You may consider requesting two or three hook & eye latches (the same hook & eye used to close a brassiere), for example, one at the bottom, one at the middle, and one at the top of a vest zipper to assist these patients. The hook & eye latches are installed inside the zipper bands so the patient can close the bottom hook & eye, then negotiate the zipper, then close the middle hook & eye, and then zip up to that level, and so on. Although most commonly requested for torso garment zippers, hook & eye closures are technically feasible for any zipper.
Waist Hook & Loop Tabs
Patients wearing a vest together with a brief or leotard may experience discomfort when they bend and the two garments separate. We can design the pressure garments to overlap and we would incorporate hook & loop patches to allow the two garments to be joined. The default configuration is to place the loop piece on the inside of the vest, and the hook piece on the outside of the brief or leotard.
Expansion Panels
A panel of Insert Material, 1 – 3 inches wide, may be installed along the lateral side of a torso compression garment, from the bottom of the garment to the axilla. If the garment has sleeves, the expansion panel could be made continuous from the bottom of the garment to the end of the sleeve. Expansion panels may be used to allow for growth in the pediatric patient and minor fluctuations in patient measurements.
Inserts
The default breast style is to construct a breast cup out of the regular material of the garment using the chest circumferences and brassiere cup size provided, however, breast panels may alternatively be constructed out of our stretchy soft Insert Material. Breast inserts are frequently requested for adult female patients. Sleeves that come with Sleeved Vests, Sleeved Body Briefs, and Sleeved Body Suits may have inserts installed in the anterior elbow crease to prevent bunching of the garment material.
Some patients may experience discomfort and skin breakdown from the material rubbing in the axillae. A gusset is a wedge of Insert Material incorporated into the axilla. If an expansion panel has been requested, the gusset may be incorporated into the expansion panel.
Linings
Some patients find the neck band of a torso compression garment irritating. This may be alleviated by lining the neck band with Lining Material. We call this, “drapelining”, because the lining material is draped around the band. Similarly, zipper bands and arm holes of sleeveless torso garments may be drapelined to reduce rubbing.
Linings may be incorporated in torso garments in order to reduce the discomfort from rubbing. For a sleeved garment, axilla linings may be added.
Fabrics and Design Considerations
Resources
Ordering
Forms
Bio-Concepts Order Form
This should be completed and transmitted with every custom garment order.
Download PDFManuals
How To Prepare The Order Form
Detailed instructions for submitting orders and an example order form.
Download PDFTorso
Videos
Sketch Pad
Charts
Bio-Concepts Sketch Pad
To indicate the locations of special linings and other features.
Download PDFBio-Concepts Measurement Charts And Forms
All of the Order Forms and Measurement Charts listed below contained in one file.
Download PDFThe Bio-Concepts Measuring Manual
All of the Measuring Manual sections listed below in one file.
Download PDF