Compliance and side effects
warmth, redness, itchiness, sVT
ADVERSE EVENTS
Overall, participants had a high level of compliance with the prescribed VT protocol, after both 12 weeks [median = 99% (Q1 = 92%, Q3 = 100%)] and 20 weeks [median = 99% (Q1 = 89%, Q3 = 100%)]. Only 5 out of 32 (16%) and 6 out of 30 (20%) participants who attended the 12-week and 20-week assessments, respectively, completed less than 80% of prescribed sVT sessions. The main reported reasons for missing sessions were lack of time and being unwell. Parents/caregivers of participants who performed sessions at home highlighted a higher need for child encouragement after 12 weeks of sVT, as participants appeared to be gradually losing interest in performing sVT at home. Notably, 50% of the participants were undergoing sVT during COVID-19 lockdowns, which might have also changed their level of routine activities, and impacted their mental health and behaviour. In turn, these might have negatively affected their motivation to continue sVT [sVT was well-tolerated with no severe adverse events reported. Nine participants (30%) reported occasional mild itchiness in the calf and ankle areas during sVT sessions, which resolved within approximately 30 seconds to 2 minutes after cessation of the sVT session. Two of these participants also complained about occasional warmth and redness of the skin on ankle area quickly resolved after the sVT session.