S.T.R.I.D.E. Professional Guide to Compression Garment Selection for the Lower Extremity

Abstract

The following supplement is a rare example of a paper that combines clinical experience and theoretical knowledge on textiles used in compression therapy. The authors' intention is to propose a decision support system for choosing specific compression devices, which can be adjusted to counteract the individual signs and symptoms in an optimally adopted way. The document concentrates on compression devices which can be self-applied by the patients—compression stockings and adjustable wraps. The acronym ‘S.T.R.I.D.E.’, incorporating both textile characteristics and clinical presentation, stands for: Shape, Texture, Refill, Issues, Dosage and Etiology. The intent of the mnemotechnical value is to highlight that successful compression includes more than dosage alone. In addition to dosage, etiology and patient presentation need to be incorporated, including a patient's physical ability to use compression effectively as part of the daily routine, thereby promoting adherence. The suggested algorithms provide a valuable guide to stride across the important, but still underestimated field of medical compression therapy and will help to put the prescription of a specific product on a more rational basis. Enjoy reading! Hugo Partsch Emeritus Professor Medical University of Vienna, Austria