Interface Pressures, Safety, Adherence, and Tactile Outcomes of Different Pressure Garments After Stroke

Comparador activo: Single-Layered 10% Circumferential Reduction (S-10) Pressure Garment

A customized single-layered finger-to-above-elbow (long glove) pressure garment with 10% circumferential reduction.

Otro: Single-Layered 10% Circumferential Reduction (S-10) Pressure Garment

Each participant will receive a single-layered 10% circumferential reduction (S-10) pressure garment, fabricated based on their circumferential measurement. Participants will receive standardized verbal and written instructions on prescribed wear schedules, donning and doffing techniques, skin inspection, and hygiene. Caregivers will be trained to assist when required. Participants will be asked to wear the pressure garment daily for at least 6 hours in the day and 6 hours in the evening for 4 weeks, and to record daily wear in a provided logbook. All participants will receive usual stroke rehabilitation in addition to the application of the pressure garment.

Experimental: Dorsal-Double-Layered 10% Circumferential Reduction (DD-10) Pressure Garment

A customized finger-to-above-elbow (long glove) pressure garment with 10% of circumferential reduction. The design is similar to S-10 except it has an extra layer of fabric on the dorsal aspect that provides more compression.

Otro: Dorsal-Double-Layered 10% Circumferential Reduction (DD-10) Pressure Garment

Each participant will receive a dorsal doubled-layered 10% circumferential reduction (DD-10) pressure garment, fabricated based on their circumferential measurement. Participants will receive standardized verbal and written instructions on prescribed wear schedules, donning and doffing techniques, skin inspection, and hygiene. Caregivers will be trained to assist when required. Participants will be asked to wear the pressure garment daily for at least 6 hours in the day and 6 hours in the evening for 4 weeks, and to record daily wear in a provided logbook. All participants will receive usual stroke rehabilitation in addition to the application of the pressure garment.

Comparador activo: Single-Layered 15% Circumferential Reduction (S-15) Pressure Garment

A customized single-layered finger-to-above-elbow (long glove) pressure garment with 15% circumferential reduction.

Otro: Single-Layered 15% Circumferential Reduction (S-15) Pressure Garment

Each participant will receive a single-layered 15% circumferential reduction (S-15) pressure garment, fabricated based on their circumferential measurement. Participants will receive standardized verbal and written instructions on prescribed wear schedules, donning and doffing techniques, skin inspection, and hygiene. Caregivers will be trained to assist when required. Participants will be asked to wear the pressure garment daily for at least 6 hours in the day and 6 hours in the evening for 4 weeks, and to record daily wear in a provided logbook. All participants will receive usual stroke rehabilitation in addition to the application of the pressure garment.

Interface pressure measured using PicoPress® Compression System

The change in interface pressure over time and the group-by-time difference in pressure trajectories among the three pressure garment groups. PicoPress® Compression System is a portable pneumatic measuring system designed to measure interface pressure exerted by pressure garment, medical compression bandage or other compression therapeutic materials.

Shape/Texture Identification (STI) test

A standardized, performance-based test in which participants identify shapes and textures using active touch. It consists of two subsets (i.e., identification of three shapes and identification of three textures) and three difficulty levels (i.e., shape sizes of 15, 8, and 5mm, and distances between dots of 15, 8, 4mm). Each subset is scored from 0 to 3 (one point per size), producing a total score that ranges from 0 to 6. A score of 6 points is interpreted as normal tactile gnosis.

Daily Self-Report and Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESI) Logbook

The self-developed logbook is a self-report records that will be used to record the adherence metrics (e.g., daily wear duration, number of days worn per week, reason of non-adherence) and the incidence of adverse events (e.g., incidence, severity, action taken).

Modified Ashworth Score (MAS)

To differentiate between mechanical garment decay and physiological fluctuations in limb volume, muscle tone (spasticity) will be monitored as a potential confounding variable.

Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) - Bahasa Malaysia version

A widely used screening tool for detecting cognitive impairment, particularly mild cognitive impairment. It is a 10-minute, 30-point assessment that evaluates various cognitive domains, including working memory, delayed recall, visuospatial abilities, executive functions, attention, concentration, language, and orientation to time and place.

Modified Ashworth Score (MAS)

A method used to assess muscle tone by a scale of 0 to 4, where 0 indicates no spasticity and 4 indicates severe spasticity.