Tubigrip sizing: How to Match a Tubular Bandage to the Limb
Tubigrip sizing questions usually arrive after a support bandage has already slid down or left a mark. The cause is almost always the same: the size was chosen from the joint that hurt rather than from the part of the limb the bandage has to pass over. Tubular support bandages are simple products with a strict measurement rule.
What is Tubigrip and how does it differ from a wrap?
Tubigrip is the Molnlycke brand name for an elasticated tubular support bandage, and the same format is sold generically. It comes as a tube that is drawn over the limb and doubled back on itself, so it holds its position without pins, clips or adhesive.
A crepe or elastic wrap is applied by hand, and how much pressure it produces depends on how tightly it is pulled and how much the turns overlap. A tubular bandage is knitted to a set circumference, so once the correct size is over the limb the support is even around the whole circumference.
How do you choose a Tubigrip size?
Measure the circumference of the limb at the widest point the bandage has to pass, in centimetres, then read the manufacturer's size chart. Sizes run as letters, and each letter covers a band of circumferences. The same letter can suit a wrist on one patient and a knee on another, because what matters is the measurement, not the joint.
Two habits make the measurement unreliable. The first is using shoe size or garment size as a proxy: neither tracks limb circumference closely enough. The second is measuring the affected joint only. For a support that sits on the calf, the calf is the controlling measurement.
| Support format | How it is sized | Typical use | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tubular support bandage (Tubigrip-style) | Circumference at the fullest point of the limb, in cm | Light support for sprains, strains, mild swelling | Size letter must match a cm range; doubling the layer adds support |
| Graduated compression stocking | Ankle and calf circumference, plus leg length | DVT prevention and chronic venous insufficiency | Measured in mmHg and fitted, not guessed |
| Elastic wrap or bandage | Applied by overlap and tension, no fixed size | Immediate first aid before a fitted product | Pressure varies with the person applying it |
When is tubular support the right choice?
Tubular support suits short-term, low-pressure support: a sprained ankle in the first days, a strained wrist, or mild swelling where a fitted compression garment would be more than the situation needs. It is easy to put on and take off, and it can be removed for washing without losing its sizing.
It is not the tool for measured therapeutic compression. When a clinician has prescribed a specific pressure in mmHg, that is a graduated stocking or a bandage system, and a tubular support bandage is not a substitute for it.
What should a clinic carry?
A working set covers the sizes that match the limbs a practice sees most: wrist, elbow, ankle, knee and calf. Around those, most clinics keep a graduated compression stocking line for prescribed use, an adjustable brace where a rigid joint support is wanted, and a reusable hot or cold pack for the acute phase.
The fitted compression line is the 15-20 mmHg graduated compression stockings, sized by ankle and calf measurement. For joints that need firmer support than a soft tube, the adjustable wrist and knee support brace covers S to XL, and the reusable gel hot and cold pack handles the acute phase. Cloth tape for securing dressings under a support is stocked as cloth medical tape, and the whole range sits in the wound care collection.
Ordering for a clinic, lab or care home? Wholesale and multi-site ordering covers case pricing and account setup, and the B2B wholesale collection lists the lines stocked for institutional buyers.
References
- O'Meara S, Cullum N, Nelson EA, Dumville JC. Compression for venous leg ulcers (review) (checked 29 September 2026)
Related Reading
- Graduated Compression Stockings: A Buyer's Guide for Canadian Clinics and Home Care
- Compression Therapy Products for Canadian Vascular Care: Stockings, Bandages and Lymphedema Management
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tubigrip used for?
Tubigrip is the Molnlycke brand name for an elasticated tubular support bandage, and the format is now sold generically. A tubular bandage gives even, all-round light support for sprains, strains and mild swelling, with no pins or tape.
How do you choose a Tubigrip size?
Measure the circumference of the limb at its fullest point, in centimetres, then read the size chart. A size letter maps to a centimetre range, and the same letter covers a different body area on a different limb, so the measurement decides the size, not the joint.
Should I measure the ankle or the calf?
Both, for anything that runs above the ankle. Tubular bandage sizes are set by the widest circumference the garment has to pass over, and for a calf-length support that is usually the calf rather than the ankle.
Does a tubular bandage replace a compression stocking?
Not for therapeutic compression. A tubular support bandage gives light, even support; a graduated compression stocking delivers a measured pressure in mmHg that falls from ankle to calf. They answer different clinical questions, so a clinic stocks both.
Last updated: September 2026. CliniEco Medical is a licensed medical device establishment (MDEL #35334).
0 comments