HEATABLE CLOTHING FOR IMPROVING THERMAL COMFORT IN STROKE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Can heatable clothing improve the comfort of people living with cold feeling arms and legs after a stroke?
IRAS ID
234124
Contact name
Ailie J Turton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of the West of England
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 0 days
Research summary
Can clothing with heatable sleeves and legs improve the comfort of people living with cold feeling arms and legs after a stroke?\nIt is estimated that about 40% of people who suffer a stroke go on to experience unpleasant coldness in affected limbs. A minority suffer abnormalities in sensitivity to temperature, and exposure to cold can trigger unpleasant sensations and pain. There is no current recommended treatment for improving thermal comfort after a stroke. Our consultation with people living with the effects of stroke has revealed that many who suffer cold limbs avoid exposure to cold environments and restrict their daily activities to avoid feeling colder. Feeling cold and avoiding exposure to cold environments reduces quality of life. \nWe want to find out if some protoype clothing with heatable zones in the sleeves and legs can improve the comfort of those with stroke affected limbs. We are also interested to find out if the clothing might increase their activities outside the home in the cooler months of the year. We will ask people to volunteer to test some prototype garments. The tests will be carried out first within a temperature controlled room at a hospital in Bath. Using a thermal imaging camera we will monitor the temperature of the participant’s skin and of the garments and evaluate the comfort of the participant. If the clothing is found to be acceptable we will ask participants to take the garments home to try for a week. We will ask participants to wear small temperature recorders on their wrist and or ankle and to keep a diary of what they wear and what activities they participate in for one week before they try the heatable clothing, and then again for a week if they take the clothing home to try out. \n
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SW/0271
Date of REC Opinion
29 Dec 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion