Effectiveness of contrast compression therapy for post-stroke complex regional pain syndrome: a randomized control trial
Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, cilt.33, sa.5, ss.566-575, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 33 Sayı: 5
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1080/10749357.2025.2589193
- Dergi Adı: Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.566-575
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Stroke, hemiplegia, complex regional pain syndrome, contrast compression therapy, pain, neurorehabilitation
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a frequent complication after stroke that negatively impacts pain, function, and rehabilitation outcomes. Objective: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of additional contrast compression therapy combined with conventional rehabilitation on edema, pain, function, motor recovery, and spasticity in post-stroke CRPS. Methods: This prospective, assessor-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted at the inpatient stroke rehabilitation clinic. Seventy-two patients with upper extremity CRPS type-I in the subacute stage after a first-ever stroke were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. Both groups underwent a standardized conventional rehabilitation program 5-day/week, 3-hours/day for 4 weeks, including positioning, range of motion, stretching, strengthening, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. The experimental group additionally received contrast compression therapy once daily 15-minutes/session for 10 days. Outcomes were edema (water displacement), rest and activity-related pain (Visual Analog Scale), neuropathic pain (painDETECT Questionnaire), functional status (Functional Independence Measure-Motor), motor recovery (Brunnstrom Stages), and spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale) assessed at baseline and post-treatment 4 weeks. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in all outcomes (p <.05). The experimental group demonstrated significantly greater reductions in edema volume and activity-related pain than the control group (p <.001 and p =.001, respectively). No between-group differences were observed in neuropathic pain, functional status, motor recovery, and spasticity. Conclusions: Contrast compression therapy provided superior short-term benefits for reducing upper extremity edema and activity-related pain when added to conventional rehabilitation in post-stroke CRPS. It may serve as an effective non-pharmacologic adjunct in stroke rehabilitation. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT07062913.