SELECTION AND EVALUATION OF TEXTILE MATERIALS FOR ADAPTIVE CLOTHING FOR CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY
Keywords:
Adaptive clothing, cerebral palsy, Lycra, biflex, denim, knitted fabrics, textile materials, physical and mechanical properties, rehabilitation clothing, sustainable design.Abstract
The development of adaptive clothing for children with cerebral palsy (CP) is particularly relevant due to the need to simultaneously address functional limitations, impaired motor control, comfort, and the development of greater independence in dressing. The aim of this study was to justify the selection of textile materials for the design of adaptive clothing, including a rehabilitation suit with the potential integration of myostimulation elements. A total of 13 textile material samples were examined, including seven denim fabrics and six knitted fabrics with different fiber compositions. The materials were evaluated in terms of surface density, thickness, electrostatic properties, tensile strength, elongation at break, and stretchability under a 6 N load. The results showed that denim fabrics demonstrated higher strength and dimensional stability, whereas elastic knitted fabrics, particularly the biflex sample, exhibited substantially greater deformability. These findings indicate that a combination of different materials may be an appropriate solution: elastic knitted fabrics can be used in functionally active areas, while stronger denim materials can be applied to structurally loaded sections of the garment. This approach makes it possible to combine freedom of movement, supportive properties, durability, and manufacturability. In addition, the potential for reusing denim materials was considered as part of an environmentally oriented approach to adaptive clothing design.
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