Bandages are pieces of cloth, paper or other material that are wrapped around an injured area to protect it and keep it clean. They come in many shapes and sizes. Some bandages have adhesive on them which will stick to your skin like a TheraICE RX Compression Sleeve, while others are made from gauze or cotton with no sticky side.
Types of Bandages
Bandages are used to cover wounds or injuries and provide protection, support, and padding. There are several types of bandages, including adhesive bandages (such as butterfly bandages), commercial/professional bandages (such as gauze bandage), elastic compression bandage, and more. There are many bandages out there, from smaller adhesive ones to full casts and more. Find out about each type of bandage, how they work and what their differences are.
Adhesive Bandages
These are the most common type of bandage, as they come in a variety of sizes and shapes to suit any need. They can be used on larger wounds or smaller ones that just need a bit more protection from dirt or other substances.
Elastic Bandages
This type is ideal for injuries like sprains and strains because it provides compression to help with pain relief while also helping to keep the injury stable until it heals.
Non-Adherent Dressings
These dressings provide protection without sticking to your wound, which makes them perfect for sensitive skin that is prone to infection when exposed.
An elastic compression bandage is used to compress dressings or apply pressure to tissue or joints to treat swelling. They are also often used in orthopedic rehabilitation after surgery. For example, an ergo-compression brace may be applied over the solid short arm of a shoulder abduction brace in order to provide added support during functional activities such as painting, typing or driving that would otherwise overload the unprotected non-amputated side of the body due to increased range of motion resulting from surgical amputation. Elastic compression bandages come in various sizes and widths, depending on their use. The most common widths are 1″ (25 mm), 2″ (50 mm), 3″ (75 mm) and 4″ (100mm).
A knee or arm sling is a bandage used to temporarily immobilize the straightening of the knee or elbow joint in order to minimize pain from injury. Knee and arm slings are most often used for per surgery, post-surgery, fracture recovery, or as a general preventive measure. Some crutches can also be made of this material. A sling is actually a bandage that goes around two body parts at once: it supports and stabilizes one part while providing relief for another.
An elbow or knee compress is a bandage wrap worn on a joint after an injury. These immobilize the joint and prevent further injury by compressing the joint so it can heal properly. An elastic bandage that provides support for the knee and lower leg with six straps going around the top of each leg and two around the knee allows proper compression of tissues while preventing pressure on one particular spot.
Final Thought
In this article, you learned the difference and characteristics of some common types of bandages. You also found out how to choose a type that will work best for your needs.
