Abstract
Compression therapy represents a cornerstone of chronic edema and scar treatment. Nevertheless, patient adherence to this treatment remains notably low, hindering its potential for reducing edema and preventing hypertrophic scarring. The sensation of heat during the course of compression therapy, emerges as a dominant contributor to this adherence challenge. However, the temperature alterations remain unexplored in research, which tends to focus on intervention studies assessing treatment effectiveness, thereby overlooking the crucial aspect of practical implementation of this therapeutic modality within patients' daily treatment regimens. To address the gap between patients' reports of heat-related discomfort and the observed lack of adherence, I propose investigating whether there is a measurable and/or subjective increase in skin temperature and whether there are prognostic factors that can predict an individual's susceptibility to heat-related discomfort during compression therapy in patients with chronic edema and burns. By developing a methodology to measure objective and subjective temperature changes during compression therapy, I provide a foundation for the industry to develop novel solutions or adaptations to compression therapy. If successful, this study can provide the necessary knowledge and be the missing piece of the puzzle in order to improve patient comfort and adherence by enabling new developments in compression garment industry.
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