Stroke
Conditions
Brief summary
The investigators will test whether an intervention called ischemic conditioning can improve paretic leg motor function in chronic stroke subjects.
Detailed description
This study will study ischemic conditioning (IC) as an intervention to improve motor function post-stroke. IC is a well studied, well tolerated intervention which has been shown to improve regional blood flow, motor neuron excitability and muscle function in multiple patient groups and in young, healthy subjects. Because IC targets three physiological systems which are all affected by stroke, the investigators hypothesize that repeated bouts of IC will result in improved motor function of the paretic leg.
Interventions
Inflation of blood pressure cuff to 225 mmHg on paretic leg. 1 session: 5 minutes of inflation, 5 minutes deflation, repeated 5 times. Maximum 12 sessions over 4 weeks.
OTHERSham
Inflation of blood pressure cuff to 25 mmHg on paretic leg. 1 session: 5 minutes of inflation, 5 minutes deflation, repeated 5 times. Maximum 12 sessions over 4 weeks.
Sponsors
Medical College of Wisconsin
Marquette University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. be between the ages of 18-85 2. able to give informed consent 3. be ≥ 6 months post diagnosis of unilateral cortical stroke and 4. have residual leg paresis.
Exclusion criteria
1. chronic low back or hip pain 2. substance abuse 3. head trauma in last 6 months 4. neurodegenerative disorder 5. any uncontrolled medical condition 6. any condition where knee extension contractions are contraindicated 7. people who are unable to follow multi step commands. 8. people who cannot walk ≥ 10 ft without physical assistance. 9. history of major psychiatric disorder 10. participant has had a myocardial infarction in the last year 11. participant has uncontrolled hypertension 12. participant is unable to contract knee muscles
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Leg Muscle Strength | Within 1 year of admission into the study | Maximum voluntary contraction of the leg muscles, measured in Newton Meters, as assessed using a Biodex dynamometer. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Leg Muscle Fatigue | Within 1 year of admission into the study | Duration the leg muscles can sustain contraction to a load level equal to 30% of a maximum voluntary contraction. Measurement units will be seconds the contraction can be held, as assessed using a Biodex Dynamometer. |
| Brachial Artery Flow Mediated Dilation | Within 1 year of admission into the study | Percent dilation of the brachial artery |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed