ObjectivesTo measure interface pressure and stiffness of short-stretch and long-stretch bandages applied with variable strength. These parameters have a deciding influence on the efficacy of compression therapy in chronic venous disease. DesignProspective experimental study. Materials and methodsCompression bandages constructed of different materials were applied with light, moderate and high pressure. Interface pressure was measured over the medial aspect of leg in 12 healthy individuals. Long-stretch bandages were compared to short-stretch bandages. The difference between standing and supine pressure was used to characterise stiffness. ResultsIn the low pressure range the median pressure of the final bandage in the supine position was between 18 and 30mmHg for the long-stretch and 25–33.5mmHg for the short-stretch bandages (p<0.01, Mann–Whitney U-test). The median differences between standing and supine pressure were between 2.0 and 8.5 for the long-stretch and 6.0–10.5mmHg for the short-stretch material.In the group of moderate pressure the median values in the supine position were in a range 33.0–58.0mmHg, for long-stretch and 39.0–49.5mmHg for short-stretch bandages, with an increase after standing of 6.0–7.0mmHg with long-stretch, and 14.0–21.0mmHg with short-stretch bandages (p<0.01, Mann–Whitney U-test).The median supine pressure values in the high pressure group were between 52.0 and 67.0mmHg for long-stretch and 59.5–67.0mmHg for short-stretch material. The median increase during standing ranged between 8.5 and 14.5mmHg in the elastic group and 23.0–33.0 in the inelastic group (p<0.01, Mann–Whitney U-test). ConclusionA bandage applied with light pressure corresponds to the moderate pressure category of stockings. The difference between the sub-bandage pressure from supine to standing can be used to characterise the stiffness of a bandage.