Designing Differential Pressure Leggings for Late Middle-Aged Women Using 3D Technology: Identifying Optimal Muscle Support Levels via Electromyography.

Kim, N. Y., & Lee, H. (2025). Designing differential pressure leggings for late middle age women using 3D technology: Identifying optimal muscle support levels via electromyography. Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics, 20, 15589250251352022.

As the demand for functional and comfortable sportswear continues to grow, understanding how clothing pressure affects performance and comfort has become an essential part of apparel design. This study by Namyim Kim and Hyojeong Lee explores how differential pressure design can be used to support specific muscles effectively, particularly for women in their 50s who experience muscle weakening with age.

Purpose and Approach

The study aimed to identify the optimal pressure levels that enhance muscle support without compromising comfort. To achieve this, researchers designed leggings with differential pressure zones—adjusting the reduction rates of fabric across various body regions using 3D human body data. They combined 3D virtual fitting (CLO3D) and real garment testing (using the AMI-3037 pressure sensor) to analyze clothing pressure distribution, muscle fatigue via electromyography (EMG), and subjective wear comfort.

Twelve healthy female participants aged 52–59 participated. Their body data were modeled through 3D scanning and translated into patterns using software such as Geomagic, Pepakura, and Yuka CAD. Compression ratios were set at different levels across the body—waist and abdomen (15%), posterior thigh (20%), vastus medialis and lateralis (25%), and gradually decreasing pressure from calf to ankle.

Key Findings

Optimal Pressure Zones:

The ideal pressure for the vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL) was around 1.5 kPa, categorized as light-to-mild compression. The waist and abdomen required lower pressure (~1.0 kPa) to maintain breathing comfort, while the calf tolerated higher levels (~2.0 kPa).

Muscle Fatigue Reduction:

EMG results showed that fatigue in the VM and VL decreased by 23.2% (p=0.022) and 17.6% (p=0.046) respectively, confirming that targeted compression can improve muscular efficiency during activity.

User Comfort:

Participants reported high satisfaction across comfort parameters, including pressure perception (5.50/7), muscle support (6.08/7), and exercise suitability (6.25/7), indicating a positive balance between performance support and wearability.

Virtual vs. Real Pressure Correlation:

The study validated that simulated pressure distributions from CLO3D closely aligned with real measurements, suggesting that virtual garment simulation can be a reliable pre-testing tool for pressure-based design.

Implications

This research underscores the potential of differential compression design in developing performance-enhancing yet comfortable sportswear for middle-aged women. The combination of 3D body data, digital patternmaking, and biomechanical analysis provides a new framework for precision-fit activewear design. Moreover, it highlights the feasibility of using virtual simulations to predict and refine pressure performance before actual prototyping.

As wearable technology and digital garment simulation advance, studies like this pave the way toward data-driven apparel design—where pressure, support, and comfort are scientifically optimized to meet the diverse needs of active consumers.