Belief in copper’s antibacterial properties date back thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians would use it to sterilize wounds; Greeks would use it to create clean drinking water. Romans and Aztecs even relied on it for its medicinal properties.
Today, the natural element has made a come back. In the US alone, 15 hospitals are looking to install — if they haven’t already — copper components across busy surfaces that are prone to exposure from microbes. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has installed drinking fountains with copper surfaces. Apparently the Colorado Springs US Olympic Committee’s flagship training center uses dumbbells with antimicrobial copper grips, similar to professional hockey teams the LA Kings and St. Louis Blues. Fast food chains like Chick-fil-A have begun using copper for their restroom door handles. Even the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cites copper as the only metal in the world that can help prevent pathogens.
“Tests performed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) show that 99.9 percent of disease-causing bacteria and viruses are eliminated within two hours on surfaces made of copper or its alloys,” reports the Del Mar Times.
How does it work?
Copper kills various pathogens once it interacts with oxygen and modifying oxygen molecules. And while there has only been one published clinical trial that demonstrates the effectiveness of copper, the results — which showed a 58 percent drop in infection rates — was enough to prompt further study.
The world however, was all too eager to leverage on copper’s antimicrobial properties. Along with reports of its disinfecting possibilities, anecdotal reports of copper being used for its pain management and wound healing properties are also making the rounds. To that end, it almost comes as no surprise that copper’s inherent advantages are now being applied to fabric — particularly for compression garments.
Compression Therapy
Compression garments are used to deliver graduated pressure, improve circulation and provide better support for high impact activities for athletes, or improve blood flow for patients suffering from arthritis. Try our ladies compression gloves today.
Made with highly engineered, elastic fabric, a sleeve, for instance, is designed to mold around a particular area to help increase blood and lymphatic flow. Adding the intrinsic advantages of copper into compression garments that are constantly worn, essentially improves on a therapeutic product that has long been used by doctors and patients to improve performance and speed up recovery.
Reaping the Benefits
Not all compression garments, however, are created equal. Credible brands, like Dr. Arthritis, approach the creation of their product with a strong focus on quality and medical insight.
The brand, known for their line of compression sleeves, are made using a high quality blend of 88 percent copper nylon with 12 percent spandex—making it one of the products with the highest copper content available, and ensuring all-day comfort.
The brand’s main mission is to improve the lives of people who suffer from joint and muscle pain—regardless if it’s because they suffer from conditions like arthritis or are recovering from an injury. The line was founded by two practicing medical doctors from Imperial College London, whose on-ground experience and medical expertise contributed to the development of the product.
Visit www.doctorarthritis.org to check out the entire line.
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