Recruiting

Compression Garments

Sponsor:

University of Calgary

Code:

NCT04881318

Conditions

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 60

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Waist-High Compression Tights

Abdominal Compression Garments

Medications that modulate heart rate and blood pressure

Study Details

Brief summary:

Compression Garments are a commonly prescribed treatment in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). The effectiveness of a proof-of-concept compression garment has been demonstrated in an acute laboratory setting. It is not known if commercially available compression garments that participants wear in their every day lives are effective at improving heart rate and reducing symptoms in POTS. This trial will evaluate the use of commercially available waist-high and abdominal compression garments in adults diagnosed with POTS in a community setting.

Conditions

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

Study ID

NCT04881318

Start date

May 17, 2021

Status verified date

Apr, 2026

Completion date

Dec 31, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec 31, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 60

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Physician diagnosis of Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
  • Resident of Canada
  • Owns waist-high compression garment: medical grade or commercially available tights with a pressure rating provided (e.g. 15-18 mmHg, 20-30 mmHg, 30-40 mmHg)
  • Optional Sub-Study: owns an abdominal compression garment (e.g. abdominal shapewear, waist high shorts)
  • Able to participate in a 4-day study (2x2 day segments with a 5-day washout period)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Overt cause for postural tachycardia (i.e., acute dehydration, thyroid disease) that precludes POTS diagnosis
  • Not a resident of Canada
  • Participants with somatization or severe anxiety symptoms will be excluded
  • Pregnant (self-reported)
  • Inability to tolerate compression garments for the duration of the study
  • Does not own a waist-high compression garment
  • Other factors which in the investigator's opinion would prevent the participant from completing the protocol, including poor compliance during previous studies

Study Design

Enrollment

30 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Crossover

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Waist-High Compression Tights and Medications

Participants will wear the waist-high compression garment while taking their regularly prescribed medications. This arm will evaluate the effects of waist-high compression garment treatment together with medications that modulate heart rate and blood pressure. This arm will also include control measurements before the garment is put on and after the garment is removed.

experimental: Waist-High Compression Tights and No Medications

Participants will wear the waist-high compression garment while holding their regular medications that modulate heart rate and blood pressure (beta-blockers, midodrine, ivabradine, stimulants). This arm will look at the effectiveness of waist-high compression without medications. This arm will also include control measurements before the garment is put on and after the garment is removed.

experimental: Abdominal Compression Garments and Medications

Participants will wear the abdominal compression garment while taking their regularly prescribed medications. This arm will evaluate the effects of abdominal compression garment treatment together with medications that modulate heart rate and blood pressure. This arm will also include control measurements before the garment is put on and after the garment is removed.

experimental: Abdominal Compression Garments and No Medications

Participants will wear the abdominal compression garment while holding their regular medications that modulate heart rate and blood pressure (beta-blockers, midodrine, ivabradine, stimulants). This arm will look at the effectiveness of abdominal compression without medications. This arm will also include control measurements before the garment is put on and after the garment is removed.

Interventions

Waist-High Compression Tights

Waist-high compression tights providing 15-40 mmHg of pressure.

Abdominal Compression Garments

Abdominal compression garment compressing the abdomen, buttocks, and upper thighs.

Medications that modulate heart rate and blood pressure

Medications that modulate heart rate and blood pressure that participants regularly take. These medications include beta-blockers, midodrine, ivabradine and stimulants.

Primary outcome measure

  • WHC Heart Rate [ Time Frame: 10 minutes ]
  • AC Heart Rate [ Time Frame: 10 minutes ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Kate M Bourne, BSc

403-210-7401autonomic.research@ucalgary.ca

Locations

University of Calgary

Recruiting

Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6

Contacts

Kate Bourne

403-210-7401

Principal Investigator:

Satish R. Raj, MD MSCI

More Information

Sponsor

University of Calgary

Last update posted

May 7, 2026

Last verified

Apr, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Calgary on 2026-05-07.