Lymphedema therapy experts are fond of hook and loop fastener tape, as it lends itself to all sorts of creative uses when it comes to affixing compression bandages to problem areas, wherever they occur. Inspired by nature, hook and loop fasteners were first invented in the mid-20th century by an engineer who thought to examine the structure of burrs, which are common autumn weeds.
These uninvited woodland guests cling to fabric or fur tenaciously, then later let go. It’s an ingenious strategy to spread seeds, but it’s also a superb design for a material that can grip, or release, as needed. By recreating these natural hook and loop structures using durable synthetic materials, the makers of hook and loop fasteners stumbled upon a superior fastener technology that can be firmly fastened, and just as readily released, over and over again.
At Lymphedema Products, we offer two varieties of the hook fastener; adhesive-backed, and non-adhesive backed hook tape. Each is available in 6" individual strips, and in rolls featuring 150 individual 6" strips. Adhesive-backed hook strips adhere well to Komprex foam. Non-adhesive hook strips work especially well with Velfoam®; a soft all-purpose padding that can be applied directly to the skin. Adhesive-backed hook strips are useful for laminating various layers of foam-like padding material together to achieve a customized compression wrapping that maximizes comfort and tolerability. We also offer the loop portion of the fastener which allows any surface to become receptive to hook strips.
Non-allergenic and delicate enough for use in genital areas, Velfoam® and hook and loop fastener tape have been designed to complement each other. Some customers use Velfoam® as an extra layer of padding under compression gloves and other compression-wear items. They note the durability of this padding, and the extra comfort it provides. Composed of thick polyfoam, this product is covered in a layer of tricot fabric, which supplies the "loops" for hook tape to grab onto.