Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Hook and loop for medical products is chosen by three criteria: softness against the skin, holding strength and adjustability. For supports and orthoses, a soft loop with a smooth or brushed face is used, elastic hook and loop for products that follow movement, and back-to-back straps for quick tightening. Widths are usually from 25 to 100 mm depending on the size of the product.
Where hook and loop is used in medicine
- knee, ankle, wrist and elbow supports;
- splints and orthoses for immobilisation;
- lumbar belts and back braces;
- blood pressure monitor cuffs;
- straps for securing catheters, bags and dressings;
- adaptive clothing for people with limited mobility;
- post-operative garments and compression products.
Types of hook and loop for medical products
Soft loop with a velour surface
A wide soft tape or fabric with loops over its whole surface. The hook side can be fastened anywhere on it, which allows smooth adjustment. Often the whole outer side of a support is made of such material.
Elastic hook and loop
The loop side is woven with an elastic base and stretches. It is used for products that must fit snugly but follow the movement of the joint, for example knee supports and lumbar belts. Elastic hook and loop combines well with elastics in the same product.
Back-to-back tape
With this tape the hooks are on one side and the loops on the other. The strap is wrapped around and fastens onto itself, without a separate mating part. It is convenient for securing straps, tightening splints and cuffs.
Small hook tabs
Short pieces of hook tape sewn to the end of straps, which fasten onto a soft surface. Rounded corners and correct placement protect the skin and clothing.
Widths according to the product
| Product | Width | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Wrist support | 25–38 mm | Soft loop, hook tab |
| Ankle support | 38–50 mm | Soft or elastic |
| Knee support | 50 mm | Elastic |
| Lumbar belt | 50–100 mm | Elastic, large area |
| Splint, orthosis | 25–50 mm | Back-to-back straps |
| Blood pressure cuff | According to the cuff | Large area, strong hold |
Requirements for hook and loop in medical use
- Comfort against the skin – the hook side must never touch the skin; the loop side on the inside must be smooth.
- Shear strength – support straps are pulled parallel and the tape must hold during movement.
- Easy opening – patients often have limited strength in their hands; the end of the strap should have a pull tab.
- Wash durability – the products are washed often, so the tape must keep its hold.
- Colour – usually beige, white, grey or black, in tone with the product.
The product manufacturer's responsibility
Medical devices in the EU are placed on the market under Regulation (EU) 2017/745. Conformity, including the assessment of materials in contact with the skin, is the responsibility of the manufacturer of the final device. Hook and loop is a component: if specific documents or material tests are needed for your product, state them explicitly in your inquiry so that we can check what can be provided for the specific article.
Sewing and construction
- Sew the tape around its entire perimeter, 1.5–2 mm from the edge.
- Reinforce the points of greatest load with a box-X or cross stitches.
- Round all corners.
- Finish the end of the strap with a turned-under edge or a tab for easy gripping.
- With elastic hook and loop sew with a zigzag so that the seam does not break when stretched.
Washing
Supports and orthoses are usually washed by hand or on a delicate programme. In the care instructions add "Close the hook and loop before washing" and "Air dry". High temperatures deform the hooks, and detergent residue in the loops reduces the hold and can irritate the skin.
Adaptive clothing
A separate, fast-growing area is adaptive clothing – garments for people with limited mobility, after surgery or for the elderly. There, hook and loop replaces buttons and zips on shirts, trousers and shoes, because it can be fastened with one hand and without precise movements. Often the tape is hidden under a placket with visible decorative buttons so that the garment looks standard. In these products narrow, soft tapes of 16–25 mm with moderate holding strength are suitable, so that the user can open them without effort.
Industrial hook and loop and heavy-duty applications
On rehabilitation equipment, stretchers and restraint belts, wider and stronger tapes are used, sometimes with stiffer hooks. There strength and durability come first and softness is secondary, because the tape does not touch the body.
Common mistakes
- The hook side on the inside of the support.
- A non-elastic tape on a product that must follow movement.
- A small tab area – the strap opens during movement.
- Sharp corners that scratch the skin.
- No pull tab for patients with reduced hand strength.
You will find widths and colours in the hook and loop category, and elastics and tapes in haberdashery.
Hook and loop from Polkom for medical products
Polkom is a Sofia-based supplier and wholesaler of accessories with over three decades of experience. We supply hook and loop tape in widths from 5 to 100 mm, both parts separately or as a set, in standard colours and matched to a sample, with delivery throughout the EU. Describe the product, the width, the type of tape and the material requirements via the inquiry form and we will propose samples.
