Abstract: As the global aging process accelerates, traditional knitted clothing struggles to meet the advanced health-protection demands of the elderly due to inherent defects such as stress concentration at seams and poor dynamic fit. Fully-fashioned knitting technology, powered by digital machinery, enables direct three-dimensional integral forming of fabrics, demonstrating tremendous potential in eliminating skin irritation, precisely regulating biomechanical support, and optimizing the thermal-moisture microclimate. This paper systematically reviews the underlying forming mechanisms and stitch architecture of weftknitted and warp-knitted fully-fashioned technologies, with an emphasis on cutting-edge applications in core wellness scenarios, including lower-limb rehabilitation intervention, trunk orthotic support, fall-impact cushioning, and chronic disease monitoring via flexible sensors. Finally, this paper points out the challenges facing current products in terms of in-service durability of sensor networks and bridging medical data silos, and presents prospects for the age-friendly development trend driven by the convergence of medical and engineering disciplines and “invisible technology”, providing references for theoretical research and industrial upgrading of elderly wellness textiles.

Key words: fully-fashioned knitting; geriatric wellness; wellness textiles; seamless structure