Motor and Neurophysiological Changes After Ischemic Conditioning in Individuals With Stroke

Description

The goal of this clinical trial is to test ischemic conditioning (blood flow restriction) as a neuromodulatory technique to improve gait function in stroke. Neuromodulation is emerging as a promising adjunct strategy to facilitate changes in brain activity and improve motor behavior following a neurological injury such as stroke. The main questions this trial aims to answer are: * Can ischemic conditioning produce neuromodulatory changes in the lower limb primary motor cortex? * Can ischemic conditioning be used as a neuromodulatory technique to improve strength, motor control, and gait speed in individuals with stroke when compared to sham ischemic conditioning? Participants will take part in two sessions of ischemic conditioning where a cuff (similar to ones that measure blood pressure) will be placed around the thigh and inflated to one of two blood flow restriction pressures (real or sham). Each participant will experience measures of brain activity and motor behavior testing before and after both sessions (ischemic conditioning and sham ischemic conditioning). Researchers will investigate ischemic conditioning as neuromodulation modality in stroke to see if ischemic conditioning can produce beneficial changes in brain activity and improvements on subsequent motor behavior tasks.

Conditions

Stroke

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to test ischemic conditioning (blood flow restriction) as a neuromodulatory technique to improve gait function in stroke. Neuromodulation is emerging as a promising adjunct strategy to facilitate changes in brain activity and improve motor behavior following a neurological injury such as stroke. The main questions this trial aims to answer are: * Can ischemic conditioning produce neuromodulatory changes in the lower limb primary motor cortex? * Can ischemic conditioning be used as a neuromodulatory technique to improve strength, motor control, and gait speed in individuals with stroke when compared to sham ischemic conditioning? Participants will take part in two sessions of ischemic conditioning where a cuff (similar to ones that measure blood pressure) will be placed around the thigh and inflated to one of two blood flow restriction pressures (real or sham). Each participant will experience measures of brain activity and motor behavior testing before and after both sessions (ischemic conditioning and sham ischemic conditioning). Researchers will investigate ischemic conditioning as neuromodulation modality in stroke to see if ischemic conditioning can produce beneficial changes in brain activity and improvements on subsequent motor behavior tasks.

Motor and Neurophysiological Changes After Ischemic Conditioning in Individuals With Stroke

Motor and Neurophysiological Changes After Ischemic Conditioning in Individuals With Stroke

Condition
Stroke
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Chicago

University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Single, stroke \> 6 months since onset
  • * Residual hemiparetic gait deficits (e.g., abnormal gait pattern)
  • * Lesions affecting the brainstem or cerebellum
  • * Other neurological disorders that may interfere with motor function
  • * Unhealed decubiti, persistent infections that may interfere with ability to perform test procedures
  • * Significant cognitive or communication impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE\<21)), which could impede the understanding of the purpose of procedures of the study
  • * Botulinum toxin (Botox) treatments to the lower limb within the past 6 months
  • * Pregnant women
  • * Contraindications to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or ischemic conditioning (IC) (Listed below)

Ages Eligible for Study

21 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Illinois at Chicago,

Sangeetha Madhavan, PT, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Illinois at Chicago

Study Record Dates

2025-12-01