Extensible dressings

A dressing comprising;

• a. a layer of non-swellable material, the layer having at least two material free regions wherein the material free regions are in the form of sigmoidal patterns, wherein the patterns are non-intersecting and arranged adjacent to one another to form one or more linear rows, wherein the linear rows are parallel to each other, such that, upon application of a force to the dressing, after the dressing is applied to a wound, the material free regions freely open from a closed position to an open position to facilitate stretching of the layer of material from a first position to a second position in the direction of the force and wherein once the force is no longer applied, the material free regions freely close to the closed position to facilitate movement of the layer of material back to the first position from the second position;
• and
• b. a releasable layer releasably contacting the layer of material while the material free regions are in the closed position.