We investigated protective response to mechanical shock, garment constriction and resistance during wearer's movement while wearing a stretch fabric knee supporter.
　Two models of the knee supporters, reduction ratios of which were 10% and 30% were prepared.
　(1) At the moment of impact, acceleration-time curve that corresponded to the amount of damage was recorded. The mechanical shock was cushioned proportionately to the number of the fabric layers.
　(2) The pressure on the kneecap wearing the 10% reduction knee supporter varied from 1 to 23 gf / cm² in standing posture and the pressure were from 4 to 97 gf / cm² in squatting posture. The pressure wearing the 30% reduction supporter ranged from 9 to 85 gf / cm² (standing) and from 25 to 213 gf / cm² (squatting).
　(3) When keeping the same posture, constriction had a tendency to decrease due to fabric relaxation.
　(4) The resistance during the wearer's movement was estimated as a work load ; tension strain on the fabric and frictional force in contact with skin were used to calculate for work load, Wt and Wf. The total amount of work load, Wt, of the 30% reduction supporter tended to be twice as high as that measured from the 10% reduction supporter due to fabric tension. The total amount of work load, Wt, of the 10% reduction supporter was about 4 times that of the 30% reduction one ; it was considered that the 30% reduction supporter, had less fabric slip on the knee during movement.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.12/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE