Comparison

Tubular bandage vs stockinette

The word stockinette gets used for two different things, which is where the confusion starts. Plain stockinette is a soft liner worn under a cast or splint. Elastic tubular support bandage is a stretch knit that provides compression. Our products carry both names because they are the elastic kind.

Side by side

How they differ

Both are seamless fabric tubes cut from a roll. The difference is whether the knit contains elastic.

Elastic tubular support Plain stockinette
What it does Elastic tubular support Provides support and even compression around the covered area Plain stockinette Protects skin as a soft layer beneath a cast, splint or brace
Stretch Elastic tubular support Elastic knit that stretches to roughly one and a half to two times its flat width and returns Plain stockinette Little or no elastic content, so minimal compression
Typical use Elastic tubular support Sprains, strains, swelling, holding dressings, support after a cast comes off Plain stockinette Lining under plaster, fibreglass casts or rigid braces
Material Elastic tubular support 80% cotton, 20% elastic Plain stockinette Usually cotton or a cotton blend, without elastic
Cut to length Elastic tubular support Yes, from a continuous roll Plain stockinette Yes, from a continuous roll
Worn on its own Elastic tubular support Yes Plain stockinette Usually not, it sits under something else

Medcore products are elastic tubular support bandages. Some retailers list them as stockinette, which is why our titles use both words.

Questions

Is stockinette the same as a tubular bandage?

Not quite. All elastic tubular support bandages are tubular, but plain stockinette is a non-elastic liner. If a product does not mention elastic content or a circumference range, it is probably the liner type.

Can I use stockinette for compression?

Plain cast-liner stockinette provides very little compression because it has no elastic content. If you need support or swelling management, you want the elastic type.

Why do your products say stockinette in the title?

Because that is what many buyers search for. Ours are elastic tubular support bandages, an 80% cotton and 20% elastic knit, with a stated circumference range for each size.

Can I wear a tubular bandage under a brace?

Yes. A soft tubular sleeve can sit between the skin and a brace, as long as it does not interfere with the brace's fit or function.

Find your size

Nine sizes from 4 to 44 inches of circumference, each with its range on the chart. Measure the widest part of the area and match it.

Open the size guide